Tam Glen
Music File
Lesley Nelson
Information
Lyrics
The tune is The Merry Beggars. Robert Burns wrote the lyrics to the tune in 1788 and probably altered the air slightly.

For a full list of Burns tunes at this site, enter Robert Burns in the search engine.

My heart is a-breaking, dear Tittie
Come counsel unto me come len;
To anger them a' is a pity,
But what will I do wi Tam Glen?
I'm thinking wi sic a braw fellow
In poortith I micht make a fen,
What care I in riches to wallow,
If I maunna marry Tam Glen?

There's Lowrie the laird o'Dumeller;
"Guid day to you brute!" he comes ben;
He brags and he blaws o' his siller,
But when will he dance like Tam Glen?
My minnie does constantly deave me,
And bids me beware o' young men,
They flatter, she says, to deceive me,
But wha can think sae o' Tam Glen?

My daddie says gin I forsake him,
He'll gie me guid hunder marks ten
But if it's ordained I maun take him,
O wha will I get but Tam Glen?
Yestreen at the valentines' dealing,
My heart to my mougied a sten,
For thrice I drew ane without failing,
And thrice it was written "Tam Glen."

The last Hallowe'en I was waukin,
My droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken,
His likeness cam up the hause staukin
And the very grey breeks o' Tam Glen.
Come counsel, dear Tittie, don't tarry!
I'll gie you my bonnie black hen,
Gif ye will advise me to marry
The lad I loe dearly, Tam Glen.
Related Links
From The Saltire Scottish Song Book
See Bibliography for full information.