The poem
O LASSIE, are ye sleepin yet, Or are ye waukin, I wad wit? For Love has bound me hand an’ fit, And I would fain be in, jo.
Chorus.—O let me in this ae night, This ae, ae, ae night; O let me in this ae night, I’ll no come back again, jo!
O hear’st thou not the wind an’ weet? Nae star blinks thro’ the driving sleet; Tak pity on my weary feet, And shield me frae the rain, jo. O let me in, &c.
The bitter blast that round me blaws, Unheeded howls, unheeded fa’s; The cauldness o’ thy heart’s the cause Of a’ my care and pine, jo. O let me in, &c.
HER ANSWERO tell na me o’ wind an’ rain, Upbraid na me wi’ cauld disdain, Gae back the gate ye cam again, I winna let ye in, jo.
Chorus.—I tell you now this ae night, This ae, ae, ae night; And ance for a’ this ae night, I winna let ye in, jo.
The snellest blast, at mirkest hours, That round the pathless wand’rer pours Is nocht to what poor she endures, That’s trusted faithless man, jo. I tell you now, &c.
The sweetest flower that deck’d the mead, Now trodden like the vilest weed— Let simple maid the lesson read The weird may be her ain, jo. I tell you now, &c.
The bird that charm’d his summer day, Is now the cruel Fowler’s prey; Let witless, trusting, Woman say How aft her fate’s the same, jo! I tell you now, &c.