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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


HIGHLAND SCOTCH FOLK LULLABY by ANONYMOUS

First Line: O CAN YE SEW CUSHIONS AND CAN YE SEW SHEETS
Last Line: BUT DADDIE'S A-ROCKIN' UPON THE SAUT SEA

O can ye sew cushions and can ye sew sheets,
And can ye sing bal-la-loo when the bairnie greets?
And hie and baw birdie, and hie and baw lamb,
And hie and baw birdie, my bonnie wee lamb.

Heigh O! Heugh O! what'll I do wi' ye?
Black's the life that I lead wi' ye;
Mony o' ye, little to gie ye,
Heigh O! Heugh O! what'll I do wi' ye?

Now hush-a-baw, lammie, and hush-a-baw, dear,
Now hush-a-baw, lammie, thy minnie is here.
The wild wind is ravin', thy minnie's heart's sair,
The wild wind is ravin', but ye dinna care.

Sing bal-la-loo, lammie, sing bal-la-loo, dear,
Does wee lammie ken that its daddie's no' here?
Ye're rockin' fu' sweetly on mammie's warm knee,
But daddie's a-rockin' upon the saut sea.



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