The Auld Hoose
Words:
Lady Nairne
(1766â??1845)
Melody:
Traditional
Oh the auld hoose, the auld hoose
What tho' the rooms were wee;
Oh kind hearts were dwelling there
And bairnies full o'glee.
The wild-rose and the jesamine
Still hang upon the wa'
How mony cherish'd memories
Do they, sweet flow'rs, reca'?

Oh the auld Laird, the auld Laird
Sae canty kind and crouse;
How many did he welcome, to,
His ain wee dear auld hoose!
And the leddy too, sae genty,
There shelder'd Scotland's heir,
And clipt a lock wi' her ain hand,
Frae his lang yellow hair.

The mavis still doth sweetly sing,
The blue-bells sweetly blaw;
The bonnie Earn's clear winding still,
But the auld hoose is awa'.
The auld hoose, the auld hoose,
Deserted tho' ye be,
There ne'er can be a new hoose
Will seem sae fair to me.
 

Still flourishing the auld pear tree,
The bairnies liked to see;
And, oh! how aften did they speir,
When ripe they a'wad be?
The voices sweet, the wee bit feet,
Aye rinnin' here and there;
The merry shout - oh! whiles we greet;
To think we'll hear nae mair.

For they are a' wide scatter'd noo!
Some to the Indies gane;
And ane alas! to her lang hame;
Not here we'll meet again -
The kirkyard, the kirkyard
Wi' flowers o' every hue;
Is sheltered by the holly's shade
An' the dark sombre yew.

The setting sun, the setting sun!
How glorious it gaed doun!
The cloudy splendour rais'd our hearts
To cloudless skies aboon!
The auld dial, the auld dial!
It told how time did pass;
The wintry winds ha'e dang it down,
Now hid 'mang weeds and grass.

 

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