Nancy's to the greenwood gane

Nancy's to the greenwood gane,

To hear the gowdspinks chattering,

And Willy he has followed her,

To gain her love by flattering:

But a' that he could say or do,

She gecked and scorned at him;

And ay when he began to woo,

She bad him mind wha gat him.

"What ails you at my dad?" quoth he,

"My minny, or my aunty?

"With croudy-moudy they fed me,

"Lang-kail and ranty-tanty;

"With bannocks of good barley-meal,

"Of thae there was right plenty,

"With chapped stocks buttered fou' weel,

"And was not that right dainty?"

"Now wae and wonder on your snout,

"Wad ye ha'e bonny Nancy?

"Wad ye compare yoursel' to me? --

"A docken till a tansy?

"I hae a wooer of my ain,

"They ca' him Souple Sandy,

"And weel I wat his bonny mow

"Is sweet like sugar-candy."

"Wow, Nancy, what needs a' this din?

"Do I not ken this Sandy?

"I'm sure the chief of a' his kin

"Was Rab the beggar randy;

"His minny Meg, upon her back,

"Bare baith him and his billy:

"Will ye compare a nasty pack

"To me, your winsome Willy?"

Then Nancy turned her round about,

And said, "Did Sandy hear ye,

"Ye wadna miss to get a clout,

"I ken he disna fear ye:

"Sae had your tongue, and say nae mair,

"Set somewhere else your fancy;

"For, as lang's Sandy's to the fore,

"Ye never shall get Nancy."