TARRY woo, tarry woo, Tarry woo is ill to spin, Card it well, card it well, Card it well ere you begin. When 'tis carded, rowed, and spun, Then the work is haflens done; But when woven, dressed, and clean, It may be cleading for a queen. Sing, my bonny harmless sheep, That feed upon the mountains steep, Bleating sweetly as you go Thro' the winter's frost and snow; Hart, and hind, and fallow-deer, No be half so useful are: Frae kings to him that hads the plow, Are all obliged to tarry woo. Up, you shepherds, dance and skip, O'er the hills and valleys trip, Sing up the praise of tarry woo, Sing the flocks that bear it too: Harmless creatures without blame, That clead the back and cram the wame, Keeps us warm and hearty fou; Leese me on the tarry woo. How happy is a shepherd's life, Far frae courts and free of strife, While the gimmers bleat and bae, And the lambkins answer mae: No such music to his ear, Of thief or fox he has no fear; Sturdy kent, and colly too, Will defend the tarry woo. He lives content, and envies none; Not even a monarch on his throne, Tho, he the royal sceptre sways, Has not sweeter holidays. Who'd be a king, can only tell, When a shepherd sings sae well; Sings sae well, and pays his due, With honest heart and tarry woo. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CHILD'S PRAYER [OR, HYMN] by MATILDA BARBARA BETHAM-EDWARDS ARABIA by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE TO AN INSECT by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES MEMORY by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR SUNRISE AND SUNSET: 1. SUNRISE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) SONG ON THE WATER (1) by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES LIFE AND DEATH by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE |