The Scottish songs - National Library of Scotland

550
;
As pity us that's lame and blind,
Puir auld maidens.
It's very hard we canna get men,
Puir auld maidens
It's very hard we canna get men,
Puir auld maidens
It's very hard we canna get men,
To satisfy a willing mind,
And pity us that's lame and blind,
Pair auld maidens.
But oh, gin we could hae our wish,
Puir auld maidens ;
But oh, gin we could hae our wish,
Puir auld maidens
But oh, gin we could hae our wish,
We'd sing as blythe as ony thrush ;
Something maun be dune for us,
Puir auld maidens.
But we'll apply to James the Third,
Puir auld maidens
But we'll apply to James the Third,
Puir auld maidens
But we'll apply to James the Third,
And our petition maun be heard.
And for ilk dame a man secured.
To puir auld maidens.*
* From Buchan's " Ancient Ballads and Songs," 2 vols. 8vo, 1828. Mr
Buchan is of opinion that this strange ditty must be of four hundred years
standing, because James the Third is mentioned in it. But this is extremely
improbable ; as not only may " James the Third" mean the old Chevalier,
who was always so entitled by his friends, but the style of the poetry
is evidently modern.