The Scottish songs - National Library of Scotland

629
TAM O' THE BALLOCH.
H. AINSLIE.
Tune— The Camplells are coming.
In the Nick o' the Balloch lived Muirland Tam,
Weel stentit wi' brochan and braxie-ham ;
A breist like a buird, and a back like a door,
And a wapping wame that hung down afore.
But what's come ower ye, Muirland Tam ?
For your leg's now grown like a wheel-barrow tram
Your ee it's faun in— your nose it's faun out,
And the skin o' your cheek's like a dirty clout.
ance, like a yaud, ye spankit the bent,
Wi' a fecket sae fou, and a stocking sae stent,
The strength o' a stot—the wecht o' a cow
Now, Tammy, my man, ye're grown like a grew.
1 mind sin' the blink o' a canty quean
Could watered your mou and lichtit your een ;
Now ye leuk like a yowe, when ye should be a ram ;
O what can be wrang wi' ye, Muirland Tam ?
Has some dowg o' the yirth set your gear abreed ?
Hae they broken your heart or broken your head ?
Hae they rackit wi' rungs or kittled wi' steel ?
Or, Tammy, my man, hae ye seen the deil ?
Wha ance was your match at a stoup and a tale ?
Wi' a voice like a sea, and a drouth like a whale ?
Now ye peep like a powt ye glumph and ye gaunt
;
Oh, Tammy, my man;, are ye turned a saunt ?
3 g2
;
; ;