The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. / With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham, Volume 2 Papyras Classics

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Chapter 116

XLIII. Up in the Morning Early

Tune—“Cold blows the wind.”

[“The chorus of this song,” says the poet, in his notes on the Scottish Lyrics, “is old, the two stanzas are mine.” The air is ancient, and was a favourite of Mary Stuart, the queen of William the Third.]

CHORUS.

Up in the morning’s no for me,
Up in the morning early;
When a’ the hills are cover’d wi’ snaw,
I’m sure it’s winter fairly.

I.

Cauld blaws the wind frae east to west,
The drift is driving sairly;
Sae loud and shill I hear the blast,
I’m sure it’s winter fairly.

II.

The birds sit chittering in the thorn,
A’ day they fare but sparely;
And lang’s the night frae e’en to morn—
I’m sure it’s winter fairly.
Up in the morning’s no for me,
Up in the morning early;
When a’ the hills are cover’d wi’ snaw,
I’m sure it’s winter fairly.