O whistle, and I'll come to ye, my lad; O whistle, and I'll come to ye, my lad: Tho' father and mither and a' should gae mad, O whistle, and I'll come to ye, my lad.
But warily tent, when ye come to court me, [take care] And come na unless the back-yett be a-jee; [gate, ajar] Syne up the back-stile, and let naebody see, [then] And come as ye were na comin' to me. And come as ye were na comin' to me.
At kirk, or at market, whene'er ye meet me, Gang by me as tho' that ye car'd na a flee: [go, fly] But steal me a blink o' your bonnie black e'e, [glance] Yet look as ye were na lookin' at me. Yet look as ye were na lookin' at me.
Aye vow and protest that ye care na for me, And whiles ye may lightly my beauty a wee; [slight] But court na anither, tho' jokin' ye be, For fear that she wyle your fancy frae me. [beguile] For fear that she wyle your fancy frae me.
My heart is a breaking, dear tittie, [sister] Some counsel unto me come len', To anger them a' is a pity; But what will I do wi' Tam Glen?
I'm thinking, wi' sic a braw fellow, [fine] In poortith I might mak a fen'; [poverty, shift] What care I in riches to wallow, If I maunna marry Tam Glen? [must not]
There's Lowrie the laird o' Dumeller, 'Guid-day to you'--brute! he comes ben: He brags and he blaws o' his siller, [money] But when will he dance like Tam Glen?
My minnie does constantly deave me, [mother, deafen] And bids me beware o' young men; They flatter, she says, to deceive me; But wha can think sae o' Tam Glen?
My daddie says, gin I'll forsake him, [if] He'll gie me guid hunder marks ten: [hundred] But, if it's ordain'd I maun take him, O wha will I get but Tam Glen?
Yestreen at the Valentine's dealing, [Last night] My heart to my mou gied a sten: [mouth gave a leap] For thrice I drew ane without failing, And thrice it was written, 'Tam Glen.'
The last Halloween I was waukin' [watching] My droukit sark-sleeve,[3] as ye ken; [drenched chemise] His likeness cam up the house stalkin'-- And the very grey breeks o' Tam Glen! [trousers]
Come, counsel, dear tittle, don't tarry; I'll gie you my bonnie black hen, [give] Gif ye will advise me to marry [If] The lad I lo'e dearly, Tam Glen. [love]
O wha my babie-clouts will buy? [baby-clothes] Wha will tent me when I cry? [care for] Wha will kiss me whare I lie?-- The rantin' dog the daddie o't. [of it]