Violet Jacob - A Change O Deils

'A change o dells is lichtsome.' - Scots Proverb.

MY Grannie spent a merry youth,
She niver wantit for a joe,
An gin she telt me aye the truith,
Richt little was't she kent na o.
An whiles afore she gaed awa
To bed her doon below the gress,
Says she, 'Guidmen I've kistit twa,
But a change o deils is lichtsome, lass!'
Sae dinna think to maister me,
For Scotland's fou o brawlike chiels,
An aiblins ither folk ye'll see
Are fine an pleased to change their deils.
Aye, set yer bunnet on yer heid,
An cock it up upon yer bree,
O a' yer tricks ye'll hae some need
Afore ye get the best o me!
Sma' wark to fill yer place I'd hae,
I'll seek a sweethert i' the toon,
Or cast my hert across the Spey
An tak some pridefu Hieland loon.
I ken a man haes hoose an land,
His airm is stoot, his een are blue,
A ring o gowd is on his hand,
An he's a bonnier man nor you!
But hoose an gear an land an mair,
He'd gie them a' to get the preen
That preened the flouers in till my hair
Beside the mey-bush yestreen.
Jist tak you tent, an mind forby,
The braw guid sense my Grannie bad,
My Grannie's dochter's bairn am I,
An a change o deils is lichtsome, lad!

Violet Jacob

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