Classic Poem

A' Ye wha live by sowps o' drink,
A' ye wha live by crambo-clink,
A' ye wha live and never think,
Come, mourn wi' me!
Our billie 's gien us a' a jink,
An' owre the Sea.

Lament him a' ye rantan core,
Wha dearly like a random-splore;
Nae mair he 'll join the merry roar,
In social key;
For now he 's taen anither shore,
An' owre the Sea!

The bonie lasses weel may wiss him,
And in their dear petitions place him:
The widows, wives, an' a' may bless him,
Wi' tearfu' e'e;
For weel I wat they 'll sairly miss him
That 's owre the Sea!

O Fortune, they hae room to grumble!
Hadst thou taen aff some drowsy bummle,
Wha can do nought but fyke an' fumble,
'Twad been nae plea;
But he was gleg as onie wumble,
That 's owre the Sea!

Auld, cantie Kyle may weepers wear,
An' stain them wi' the saut, saut tear:
'Twill mak her poor, auld heart, I fear,
In flinders flee:
He was her Laureat monie a year,
That 's owre the Sea!

He saw Misfortune's cauld Nor-west
Lang-mustering up a bitter blast;
A Jillet brak his heart at last,
Ill may she be!
So, took a birth afore the mast,
An' owre the Sea.

To tremble under Fortune's cummock,
On scarce a bellyfu' o' drummock,
Wi' his proud, independant stomach,
Could ill agree;
So, row't his hurdies in a hammock,
An' owre the Sea.

He ne'er was gien to great misguidin,
Yet coin his pouches wad na bide in;
Wi' him it ne'er was under hidin;
He dealt it free:
The Muse was a' that he took pride in,
That 's owre the Sea.

Jamaica bodies, use him weel,
An' hap him in a cozie biel:
Ye 'll find him ay a dainty chiel,
An' fou o' glee:
He wad na wrang'd the vera Diel,
That 's owre the Sea.

Fareweel, my rhyme-composing billie!
Your native soil was right ill-willie;
But may ye flourish like a lily,
Now bonilie!
I'll toast ye in my hindmost gillie,
Tho' owre the Sea!