The Laird O’ Drum / The Hare in the Corn

Oh, the Laird o' Drum has a-walking gone
On one morning early; -
He has spied a well-favored lass
Shearing her father's barley

"Oh, would you nae be a gentleman's wife?
Would you nae fancy me-o"
Would you nae be of some higher degree
An let your shearing be-o?"

"Yes, I would be a gentleman's wife
And I would fancy thee-o;
But I cannae wear silk that rustles at the knee
Nor make a cup of tea-o"

"My father is a poor shepherd man
With sheep on yonder hill-o;
You may go there and ask of him
I'm always at his will-o."

"My daughter can neither read nor write
She was never at a school-o;
But any other thing right well can she do
For I learned the lassie myself-o."

"It's who will bake our bridal cake
And who will brew the ale-o;
And who will welcome my bonnie lassie home
Is more than I can tell-o."

"Oh, the baker can bake the bridal cake
The brewer can brew the ale-o;
If no one welcomes your bonnie lassie home
Welcome her in yourself-o."

Four and twenty fine gentlemen
Stood at the gates of Drum-o;
But no one lifted his hat from his head
To welcome the bonnie lassie in-o

Then up and spoke his brother John
An angry man was he-o;
"You've married a wife this sad, sorry night
And she's not a match for thee-o."

"Oh, the last lady I had in this house
Was far above our degree-o;
I dared not enter into her room
'Til my hat was below my knee-o."

He has ta'en her by the hand
And gently led her in-o;
Saying, "Welcome home, my Lady of Drum
For this is all your own-o."

"I told you, my laird, ere we came here
Was not of your degree-o;
But now we are wed and lying in one bed
I'm just as good as thee-o."

"For if you were dead and I were dead
And both laid in one grave-o
Nine years down and lifted up again
Who's to know your dust from mine-o?"