The poem
Green grow the rashes, O! Green grow the rashes, O! The sweetest hours that e'er I spend, Are spent amang the lasses, O!
There's nought but care on every han' In every hour that passes, O; What signifies the life o' man, An 'twere na for the lasses, O?
The warl'ly race may riches chase, An' riches still may fly them, O; An' though at last they catch them fast, Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them, O.
But gi'e me a canny hour at e'en, My arms about my dearie, O, An' warl'ly cares an' warl'ly men May a' gae tapsalteerie, O!
For you sae douce, ye sneer at this, Ye're nought but senseless asses, O; The wisest man the warl' e'er saw, He dearly loved the lasses, O.
Auld Nature swears the lovely dears Her noblest work she classes, O; Her 'prentice han' she tried on man, An' then she made the lasses, O.