Cold And Raw

Cold and raw the North did blow, bleak in a morning early;
All the trees were hid with snow, cover'd with winter fearly:
As I came riding o'er the slough, I met with a Farmer's Daughter;
Rosie cheeks, and bonny brow, geud faith, made my mouth to water.

Down I vail'd my bonnet low, meaning to show my breeding,
She return'd a graceful bow, her visage far exceeding:
I ask'd her where she went so soon, and long'd to begin a parley:
She told me to the next market town, a purpose to sell her Barley.

"In this purse, sweet soul!" said I, "twenty pound lies fairly,
Seek no farther one to buy, for I'se take all thy Barley:
Twenty more shall purchase delight, thy person I love so dearly,
If thou wilt lig by me all night, and gang home in the morning early."

"If forty pound would buy the Globe, this thing I's not do, Sir;
Or were my friends as poor as Job, I'd never raise'em so, Sir:
For shou'd you prove to-night my friend, we'se get a young kid together,
And you'd be gone e'r nine months end, and where shall I find the father?

"Pray what would my parents say, if I should be so silly,
To give my maidenhead away, and lose my true love Billy!
Oh this would bring me to disgrace, and therefore I say you nay, Sir;
And if that you would me embrace, first marry, and then you may, Sir!"

I told her I had wedded been, fourteen years and longer,
Else I'd chuse her for my Queen, and tye the knot yet stronger.
She bid me then no farther roame, but manage my wedlock fairly,
And keep my purse for poor Spouse at home, for some other should have her barley.

Then as swift as any roe, she rode away and left me;
After her I could not go, of joy she quite bereft me:
Thus I my self did disappoint, for she did leave me fairly,
My words knock'd all things out of joint, I lost both the maid and the barley.

Cauld blaws the wind frae east to west,
The drift is driving sairly;
Sae loud and shill 's I hear the blast,
I'm sure it's winter fairly!

The birds sit cbittering in the thorn,
A' day they fare but sparely;
And lang's the night frae e'en to morn-
I'm sure it's winter fairly.

Chorus