LIX. Rattlin’, Roarin’ Willie

Tune—“Rattlin’, roarin’ Willie.”

[“The hero of this chant,” says Burns “was one of the worthiest fellows in the world—William Dunbar, Esq., Write to the Signet, Edinburgh, and Colonel of the Crochallan corps—a club of wits, who took that title at the time of raising the fencible regiments.”]

I.

O rattlin’, roarin’ Willie,
O, he held to the fair,
An’ for to sell his fiddle,
An’ buy some other ware;
But parting wi’ his fiddle,
The saut tear blint his ee;
And rattlin’, roarin’ Willie,
Ye’re welcome hame to me!

II.

O Willie, come sell your fiddle,
O sell your fiddle sae fine;
O Willie, come sell your fiddle,
And buy a pint o’ wine!
If I should sell my fiddle,
The warl’ would think I was mad;
For mony a rantin’ day
My fiddle and I hae had.

III.

As I cam by Crochallan,
I cannily keekit ben—
Rattlin’, roarin’ Willie
Was sittin’ at yon board en’;
Sitting at yon board en’,
And amang good companie;
Rattlin’, roarin’ Willie,
Ye’re welcome hame to me I