From the recording Green Grow the Rashes, O
Lyrics
There’s nought but care on ev’ry han’ In ev’ry hour that passes, O: What signifies the life o’ man, An’ ‘twere not for the lasses, O. Chorus Green grow the rashes, O Green grow the rashes, O The sweetest hours that e’re I spend Are spent amang the lasses O. The warly race may riches chase, An’ riches still may fly them, O; And tho’ at last they catch them fast, Their hearts can ne’er enjoy them O. Chorus But gie me a cannie hour at e’en, My arms about my dearie, O An’ warly cares, an’ warly men, Shall a’ gae tapsalteerie, O Chorus But ye sae douce, ye sneer at this Ye’re nought but senseless asses, O The wisest man the warl’ e’re saw He dearly lov’d the lasses O. Chorus Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears, Her noblest work she classes, O: Her prentice han’ she try’d on man, An’ then she made the lasses. O. Chorus (2X) rashes: rushes nought: nothing ev’ry: every han’: hand o’: of an’: and ‘twere: it were e’re: ever amang: among warly: worldly tho’: though ne’er: never gie: give cannie: quiet e’en: evening gae: go tapsalteerie: upside-down sae: so douce: prudent ye’re: you are warl’: world lov’d: loved auld: old prentice: apprentice