Henry's Songbook

Hurray, hurray, the jade's away
Like a rocket of air with her bandalet
I'm up in the air on my bonnie gray mare
But I see her yet, I see her yet

I'll ring the skirts o' the gowden wain
Wi' curb and bit, wi' curb and bit
And catch the Bear by the frozen mane
And I see her yet, I see her yet

Away, away o'er mountain and main
To sing at the morning's rosy yett
And water my mare in its fountain clear
But I see her yet, I see her yet

Away, thou bonnie witch o' Fife
On foam of the air to heave and flit
And little reck thou of the poet's life
For he sees thee yet, he sees thee yet

(as sung by The McCalmans)

[1970:] Born in Ettrick Forest, [James Hogg (1770-1835)] spent his early days as a shepherd, but he was discovered by Scott while collecting material for his 'Border Minstrelsy', and taken under that ample wing. He had almost no formal education, [...] but he soon became famous among the famous of his time - helped by his magnificent personality. He farmed most of his life and left a variety of notable works [...]. (Penguin Book of Scottish Verse 15f)