Main content

Had I the wyte she bade me

A song by Robert Burns, written in 1796.

â’¼ CONTAINS SOME SCENES OF A SEXUAL NATURE

Had I the wyte, had I the wyte,
Had I the wyte, she bade me;
She watch'd me by the hie-gate-side,
And up the loan she shaw'd me.
And when I wad na venture in,
A coward loon she ca'd me:
Had Kirk and State been in the gate,
I'd lighted when she bade me.

Sae craftilie she took me ben,
And bade me mak nae clatter;
'For our ramgunshoch, glum Goodman
'Is o'er ayont the water:'
Whae'er shall say I wanted grace,
When I did kiss and dawte her,
Let him be planted in my place,
Syne, say, I was the fautor.

Could I for shame, could I for shame,
Could I for shame refus'd her;
And wad na Manhood been to blame,
Had I unkindly us'd her!

He claw'd her wi' the ripplin-kame,
And blae and bluidy bruis'd her;
When sic a husband was frae hame,
What wife but wad excus'd her?

I dighted aye her een sae blue,
An' bann'd the cruel randy,
And weel I wat her willin mou
Was sweet as succarcandie.
At glomin-shote, it was, I wat,
I lighted on the Monday;
But I cam thro' the Tiseday's dew,
To wanton Willie's brandy.

Release date:

Duration:

1 minute

This clip is from

Featured in...