XXXIV. Come Down the Back Stairs

Tune—“Whistle, and I’ll come to you, my lad.”

[The air of this song was composed by John Bruce, a Dumfries fiddler. Burns gave another and happier version to the work of Thomson: this was written for the Museum of Johnson, where it was first published.]

CHORUS.

O whistle, and I’ll come
To you, my lad;
O whistle, and I’ll come
To you, my lad:
Tho’ father and mither
Should baith gae mad,
O whistle, and I’ll come
To you, my lad.

Come down the back stairs
When ye come to court me;
Come down the back stairs
When ye come to court me;
Come down the back stairs,
And let naebody see,
And come as ye were na
Coming to me.