MEG O' THE MILL
Robert Burns wrote a couple of songs with this title, one being a re-working of a traditional song. However, the following is a new piece that Burns sent to the collector, George Thomson in 1793. In his comments to his friend he seems to have been particularly proud of his writing skills in this one.
O ken ye what Meg o' the Mill has gotten,
An' ken ye what Meg o' the Mill has gotten?
She’s gotten a coof wi' a claut o' siller,
And broken the heart o' the barley Miller.
The Miller was strappin, the Miller was ruddy;
A heart like a lord, and a hue like a lady;
The laird was a widdifu', bleerit knurl;
She's left the gude fellow, and ta’en the churl.
The Miller he hecht her a heart leal and loving,
The laird did address her wi' matter mair moving,
A fine pacing-horse wi' a clear chained bridle,
A whip by her side, and a bonie side-saddle.
O wae on the siller, it is sae prevailin',
And wae on the love that is fixed on a mailen!
A tocher's nae word in a true lover's parle,
But gie me my love, and a fig for the warl'!
https://soundcloud.com/words-of-burns/meg-o-the-mill