Facts and Intuitions

I feel this earth trembling, and the ground beneath my feet
Shakes the gray foundation; I awaken from my sleep.
I trust my life to providence, I trust my soul to grace.
But nothing takes away the pain, I can't forget your face.
Somewhere in this world of shadow, blood and bone,
I struggle through the day to day, I brace against the storm.
Thoughts of you pursue me, like an overwhelming tide.
Something in the air tonight, it will do no good to hide.
Cause it feels, oh God, like the world's on fire.
Night after night, like a fever it burns.
I deprive myself of feeling, both a blessing and a curse,
A love that can't be likened to a single thing on earth.
Maybe I'll see better when the storm inside has burst.
Maybe I'll see better when I see your face .

-Michael Been, Worlds on Fire

This song, about the famous Edinburgh beauty is (I hope) in the public domain.  This is my own transcription, from the 18th century Border Scots in which it's usually sung.  Translation into standard English available upon request.  Note: If the 'prince' here is Bonnie Prince Charlie, then his interest in Mallie Leigh would contradict what most historians suggest to be the case  *wink, wink* with regard to him. 

Mallie Leigh 

When Mallie Leigh cam doon the street, her Capuchin did flee
An' she's caust a look behind her, for to see her negligee

Chorus:

An' we’re a' gone east and west, a' gone aye aglee
We’re all gone east and west, a-courting Mallie Leigh

A' up an doon the Canongate were lads o' ilk degree
An' many's ain turned roond tae look at bonnie Mallie Leigh

A countess o'er in Seaton's lands, looked frae her winda hie
And pined to see the slender waist o' bonnie Mallie Leigh

And when she reached the palace gate, there stood Earls three;
And each ain thocht his Kate or Moll was a drab to Mallie Leigh.

The dance went roond the palace hall, a comely sicht tae see
But nane was there sae bricht and braugh as bonnie Mallie Leigh

The prince cam out frae amang 'em a' , wi' th' garter at his knee
And danced a stately minuette wi' bonnie Mallie Leigh

Let me in this very night, this ver-er-ery  night, oh
Let me in this very night or I’ll never ask back again-oh

My mother she is sound asleep
And the bedroom door does chirrup and cheep
The bedroom door does chirrup and cheep
And I cannot let you in, so

Go on home this very night, this, ver-er-ery night 
Go on home this very night and never ask back again.

I’ll oil your door so it won’t squeak
An it will neither chirrup nor cheep
No,  it will neither chirrup nor cheep
An I’ll come slippin’ in, so

Let me in this very night, this ver-er-ery night, oh
Let me in this very night or I’ll never ask back again-oh

Well, when he got in he was so glad
He’s taken the hat from off of his head
An he kissed her on the cheek so red
An the old wife heard the noise-oh

But well she liked that very night, that ver-er-ery. oh
Well she liked that very night, she let her laddie in-oh

Well, when he got in he was so glad
He’ knocked the slats out of the bed
And he stole the lassie's virginity
And the old wife heard the noise-oh

But well she liked that very night, that ver-er-ery night, oh
Well she liked that very night  that she let her laddie in-oh

I am the Laird of Udny’s walls
And I’ve come here with right good cause
I’ve suffered more than thirty falls
Just gallopin’ over the plains, so

Let me in this very night, this ver-er-ery night, oh
Let me in this very night or I’ll never ask back again-oh


 

For a freezing cold day here in the Northeast of America, this is my own transcription of a song (in the public domain, I hope and, so far as I know, otherwise un-transcribed online) from the Northeast of Scotland about the quaint old winter custom of 'bundling.'  This is when, for the sake of warmth, a young male guest might be allowed to sleep with the daughter of the house so long as there was a long, heavy down pillow (called a 'bundle') between them.

As Archie Fsher says, "The feathers fairly flew!"

I am the Laird o Udny’s wa's
And I’ve cam here wi' richt good cause
I’ve suffered mare than thirty fa's
Just gallopin’ o’er the plain, so

Let me in this ae nicht, this ae, ae, ae nicht, oh
Let me in this ae nicht or I’ll never speir back again-oh

My mother she is sound asleep
And the bedroom door doeth chirrup and cheep
The bedroom door doeth chirrup and cheep
And I canna let you in, so

Gang ye hame this ae nicht, this ae, ae, ae nicht, oh
Gang ye hame this ae nicht and never speir back again

I’ll oil your door sae it won’t squeak
An it will neither chirrup nor cheep
Nae it will neither chirrup nor cheep
An I’ll cam slippin’ in, so

Let me in this ae nicht, this ae, ae, ae nicht, oh
Let me in this ae nicht or I’ll never speir back again-oh

Well, when he gocht in he was sae glad
He’s taken the bonnet frae offen his head
An he kussed her on the cheek sae red
An the auld wif heard the din-oh

But well she liked that ae nicht, that ae, ae, ae nicht. oh
Well she liked that ae nicht, an she let her laddie in-oh

Well, when he gocht in he was sae glad
He’s knocked the bottom-boards oot of the bed
And he stole the lassie's maidenhead
And the auld wif heard the din-oh

But well she liked that ae nicht, that ae, ae, ae nicht, oh
Well she liked that ae nicht that she let her laddie in-oh

I am the Laird o Udny’s wa's
And I’ve come here with richt good cause
I’ve suffered mare than thirty fa's
Just gallopin’ o’er the plain, so

Let me in this ae nicht, this ae, ae, ae nicht, oh
Let me in this ae nicht or I’ll never speir back again-oh