O let me in this ae night

Haydn, Joseph

O Lassie, are ye sleepin yet,

Or are ye waukin, I wad wit?

For Love has bound me hand an' fit,

And I would fain be in, jo.

Chorus

-- O let me in this ae night,

This ae, ae, ae night;

O let me in this ae night,

I'll no come back again, jo!

O hear'st thou not the wind an' weet?

Nae star blinks thro' the driving sleet;

Tak pity on my weary feet,

And shield me frae the rain, jo.

The bitter blast that round me blaws,

Unheeded howls, unheeded fa's;

The cauldness o' thy heart's the cause

Of a' my care and pine, jo.

Chorus

-- O let me in this ae night,

This ae, ae, ae night;

O let me in this ae night,

I'll no come back again, jo!

Her Answer

O, tell na me o' wind an' rain,

Upbraid na me wi' cauld disdain,

Gae back the gate ye cam again,

I winna let yo in, jo.

Chorus

-- I tell you now this ae night,

This ae, ae, ae night

And ance for a' this ae night,

I winna let ye in, jo.

The snellest blast, at mirkest hours,

That round the pathless wand'rer pours

Is nocht to what poor she endures,

That's trusted faithless man, jo.

The sweetest flower that deck'd the mead,

Now trodden like the vilest weed --

Let simple maid the lesson read

The weird may be her ain, jo.

The bird that charm'd his summer day,

And now the cruel Fowler's prey;

Let [witless, trusting, Woman say

How aft her fate's the same, jo!]

Chorus

-- I tell you now this ae night,

This ae, ae, ae night

And ance for a' this ae night,

I winna let ye in, jo.