Love

O, Row Thee in My Highland Plaid

by Robert Tannahill 1774–1810

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, vol. 2 (1855–57)

Love

Lowland lassie, wilt thou go
Where the hills are clad with snow;
Where, beneath the icy steep,
The hardy shepherd tends his sheep?
Ill nor wae shall thee betide,
When row'd within my Highland plaid.

Soon the voice of cheery spring
Will gar a' our plantin's ring,
Soon our bonny heather braes
Will put on their summer claes;
On the mountain's sunny side,
We 'll lean us on my Highland plaid.

When the summer spreads the flowers,
Busks the glens in leafy bowers,
Then we 'll seek the caller shade,
Lean us on the primrose bed;
While the burning hours preside,
I 'll screen thee wi' my Highland plaid.

Then we 'll leave the sheep and goat,
I will launch the bonny boat,
Skim the loch in canty glee,
Rest the oars to pleasure thee;
When chilly breezes sweep the tide,
I 'll hap thee wi' my Highland plaid.

Lowland lads may dress mair fine,
Woo in words mair saft than mine;
Lowland lads hae mair of art,
A' my boast 's an honest heart,
Whilk shall ever be my pride;--
O, row thee in my Highland plaid!

"Bonny lad, ye 've been sae leal,
My heart would break at our fareweel;
Lang your love has made me fain;
Take me--take me for your ain!"
Across the Firth, away they glide,
Young Donald and his Lowland bride.

MLA

Tannahill, Robert. “O, Row Thee in My Highland Plaid.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tannahill/13/.

Chicago

Tannahill, Robert. “O, Row Thee in My Highland Plaid.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tannahill/13/.

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