The Auld Fisher's Last Wish (Thomas Doubleday) The morn is grey, and green the brae, the wind is frae the wast; Before the gale the snow-white clouds are drivin', light and fast; The airly sun is glintin' forth, owre hill, an' dell, an' plain, And Coquet's streams are glitt'rn as they rin frae muir to main. My Sun is set; my eyne are wet; cauld poortith now is mine, Nae mair I'll range by Coquetside, and thraw the gleesome line; Nae mair I'll see her bonnie streams in spring-bright raiment drest, Save in the dream that stirs the heart, when the weary e'e's at rest. Oh! were my limbs as ance they were, to jink across the green; And were my heart as light again as sometimes it has been; And could my fortunes blink again, as erst when youth was sweet, Then, Coquet, hap what might betide, we'd no be lang to meet. Or had I but the Cushat's wing, where'er I list to flee, And wi' a wish might wend my way owre hill, an' dale, an' lea; 'Tis there I'd fauld that weary wing; there gaze my latest gaze; Content to see thee once again, then sleep beside thy Braes! From "Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings," 1891. CB Words: Thomas Doubleday, 1841; tune: traditional, "My Love is Newly Listed." CB
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