Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN ELECTION BALLAD by ROBERT BURNS

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE LADDIES BY THE BANKS O' NITH
Last Line: UP AND WAUR THEM, &C.
Subject(s): ELECTIONS; VOTING; VOTERS; SUFFRAGE;
The Laddies by the banks o' Nith
Wad trust his Grace wi a', Jamie;
But he'll sair them, as he sair'd the King --
Turn tail and rin awa', Jamie.

Chorus. -- Up and waur them a', Jamie,
Up and waur them a';
The Johnstones hae the guidin o't,
Ye turncoat Whigs, awa'!

The day he stude his country's friend,
Or gied her faes a claw, Jamie,
Or frae puir man a blessin wan,
That day the Duke ne'er saw, Jamie.
Up and waur them, &c.

But wha is he, his country's boast?
Like him there is na twa, Jamie;
There's no a callent tents the kye,
But kens o' Westerha', Jamie.
Up and waur them, &c.

To end the wark, here's Whistlebirk,
Lang may his whistle blaw, Jamie;
And Maxwell true, o' sterling blue;
And we'll be Johnstones a', Jamie.
Up and waur them, &c.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net