017 Blythe Hae I Been On Yon Hill
Tune: Merrily Dance The Quaker
1．
Blythe hae I been on yon hill
As the lambs before me,
Careless ilka thought, and free,
As the breeze flew o'er me.
Now nae langer sport and play,
Mirth or sang can please me:
Lesley is sae fair and coy,
Care and anguish seize me.
2．
Heavy, heavy is the task,
Hopeless love declaring!
Trembling, I dow nocht but glow'r,
Sighing, dumb despairing!
If she winna ease the thraws
In my bosom swelling,
Underneath the grass-green sod,
Soon maun be my dwelling.
Notes
Title Blythe Hae I Been on Yon Hill: I Have Been Blithe On The Hill Over There
This is a poem written about Miss Lesley Baillie, the same person in another poem entitled “Saw Ye Bonie Lesley”. Burns said this was one of the best songs he wrote in his life, and the heroine was regarded by Burns as the most beautiful, lovely woman in the world. This poem was first printed in 1799.
Stanza 1
Line 3 ilka: each, every
Line 4 o'er: over
Line 5 nae langer: no longer
Line 6 sang: song
Line 7 sae fair and coy: so beautiful and shy
Stanza 2
Line 3 dow nocht but glow'r: do nothing but stare
Line 5 winna: not want to; thraws: throes
Line 7 sod: lea
Line 8 maun: must