Last year at Lady Mary's fair when I was in Dundee
I fell in with an old sweetheart, and he being on a spree
His company I did accept and with him I did go
But to my sad misfortune it proved my overthrow
We wandered east, we wandered west, we wandered through the lawn
He said he'd see me home that night, but home I never saw
He kept beside me all the while resolved to have his will
And by and by we lost our way at the back of Rare's Hill
And when we got to Rare's Hill, the laddie said to me
"We can't go home tonight, my dear, it's far too late, you'll see
But the night is warm and in my pouch, I've got another gill
So we can lie down here content at the back of Rare's Hill"
For then he poured a nip a piece to quiet all alarm
When I awoke in the morning, we were locked in each other's arms
He handed me the bottle another glass to fill
And I drank his health in store o' wealth at the back of Rare's Hill
And then the lad, he said to me, "Oh lassie, do not mourn
For while I draw the breath of life, from you I'll never turn
If you will come to yonder town, my wedded wife to be
We'll be the happiest couple yet 'twas ever in Dundee"
Well, it's may I never prosper and may I never thrive
In anything I take in hand as long as I'm alive
If e'er I say I rue the day my laddie had his will
Success to Lady Mary's fair and the back of Rare's Hill
I fell in with an old sweetheart, and he being on a spree
His company I did accept and with him I did go
But to my sad misfortune it proved my overthrow
We wandered east, we wandered west, we wandered through the lawn
He said he'd see me home that night, but home I never saw
He kept beside me all the while resolved to have his will
And by and by we lost our way at the back of Rare's Hill
And when we got to Rare's Hill, the laddie said to me
"We can't go home tonight, my dear, it's far too late, you'll see
But the night is warm and in my pouch, I've got another gill
So we can lie down here content at the back of Rare's Hill"
For then he poured a nip a piece to quiet all alarm
When I awoke in the morning, we were locked in each other's arms
He handed me the bottle another glass to fill
And I drank his health in store o' wealth at the back of Rare's Hill
And then the lad, he said to me, "Oh lassie, do not mourn
For while I draw the breath of life, from you I'll never turn
If you will come to yonder town, my wedded wife to be
We'll be the happiest couple yet 'twas ever in Dundee"
Well, it's may I never prosper and may I never thrive
In anything I take in hand as long as I'm alive
If e'er I say I rue the day my laddie had his will
Success to Lady Mary's fair and the back of Rare's Hill