SCOTS Project - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Document : 375 Title : The lassies tak the bannock, O! Author(s): Michael Hamish Glen Copyright holder(s): Michael Hamish Glen Text 1. Twa hunder year an mair hae gane, Syne Rabbie dee'd, but nane i vain, (They gie us cause fur makin main) Fur still his splores wi us remain. He kent ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 2. It's tae the chiels A gab the nicht - O Lord ye mak a winsome sicht, (Gin ye wad but yer faiples dicht!) Wi weskits braw, an pates sae bricht! But ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 3. Whan ettling hauns are wunt tae rove, I seeking luscious traisure trove, Ben ferny haugh or gressy grove (Whaur pintles hae been kent tae hove). O! jings ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 4. An gin ye lang fur muntain taps, That silken mist aye doucely wraps (Wi mony a cleft fur dawdling staps), Forget auld Jura wi her Paps. Fur ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 5. At gloamin fa, or efter derk (Noo, there's the tid tae mak yer merk), When roamin throw a bussie perk, They'll tak ye in ablow their serk. O! aye... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 6. Whan restless een are kesting roon, An breedy thochts are ben yer croon, Juist gar her pou yer troosers doon! (Mak siccar, mind, she's nae a loon.) Aye, lads ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 7. Whan owertak't be thochts salacious, Care nae a docken tae be gracious; E'en queans i teens can be rapacious (Wi pairts forenenst ye gey capacious). Deil kens ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 8. Care nocht that ane wee cantie sperm (Its tottie scowth micht hae nae term), Cud gar sic muckle dreid an herm. The bull in ye wad fill a ferm! O! losh ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 9. Gin haughmagandie is yer bent (An ilka laddie craves his stent), O usquebae ye maun tak tent, Lest nichts o passion perish, rent. O! ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 10. Fur, gin yer fere's John Barleycorn, Ca canny, fur he'll nirl yer horn (Lik ony bairn's, juist newly born), An bring oot skirls o hertless scorn. Ye ken ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 11. But, whan blowst'rie days are a gaun hame, An pooer ye want tae prime her waim, Keek blithesome at yer chusit dame (In howp she's blin tae a yer shame). Aye, weel ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 12. Whan agues grup ye wi their pains, Forbye ye're tholing brakit banes (Ye're shauchlin, shilpit, a yer lanes), They cosset ye lik wabbit weans. O! ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 13. But gin they're hirplin on ane leg (Lik Auntie Beenie wi her peg), They dinnae girn or wheenge or beg; A queanie disnae gie a feg. Fur, mind ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 14. Whan winds are curst that blaw frae sooth (An rattle ilka yawking tuith), Tae cry the blash wad be uncouth; Ken, lads, there bides ane aesome truith. Aye, aye ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 15. O! O! but, gin yer loins hae expectation (O yerd-fast, sumptious penetration), Juist knuckle doon - tae ruch temptation! An rant i braisant delectation. O! man ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! 16. Sae, rax yer haun oot, trusty feres (Fur noo ma prattle's ootcome nears), An heist yer gless wi lusty cheers, Tae cry a tost wad bide fur years! Come owre, ye carl-cats! ... The lassies bak ... The lassies brak ... The lassies tak the bannock, O! Tae the lassies! This work is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The SCOTS Project and the University of Glasgow do not necessarily endorse, support or recommend the views expressed in this document. Information about document and author: Text Text audience Other: members and guests Audience size: 21-100 Writer knew intended audience: Text details Method of composition: Wordprocessed Year of composition: 1995 Word count: 682 General description: Verse 'toast' extolling the lassies in Burns' style Text medium Other: personal performance Text performance/broadcast details Where performed/broadcast: At Burns Suppers in Scottish Arts Club in Edinburgh. When performed/broadcast: 2000-01-25 Performed/broadcast by: Author Text setting Leisure/entertainment: Text type Poem/song/ballad: Author Author details Author id: 609 Forenames: Michael Hamish Surname: Glen Gender: Male Decade of birth: 1940 Educational attainment: Highers/A-levels Age left school: 18 Upbringing/religious beliefs: Atheist Occupation: Writer/Heritage management consultant Place of birth: Bearsden Region of birth: Dunbarton Birthplace CSD dialect area: Dnbt Country of birth: Scotland Place of residence: Tarbert Region of residence: Argyll Residence CSD dialect area: Arg Country of residence: Scotland Father's occupation: Chartered Accountant Father's place of birth: Cambuslang Father's region of birth: Lanark Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: Lnk Father's country of birth: Scotland Mother's occupation: Lawyer Mother's place of birth: Glasgow Mother's region of birth: Glasgow Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: Gsw Mother's country of birth: Scotland Languages: Language: English Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: All circumstances Language: French Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: On holiday, not entirely fluent Language: Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic Speak: No Read: No Write: Yes Understand: No Circumstances: Used in commissioned writing with help of speakers Language: Italian Speak: Yes Read: No Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: A little written and spoken Language: Scots Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: In commissioned and personal writing and conversat