Free Song Lyrics

1.2-5: From Kinloch's version. The final repetition, here printed
in italics, forms the burden in singing, and is to be repeated,
_mutatis mutandis_, in each verse.
2.2: 'care-bed,' the bed of sickness due to anxiety.
3.1: 'forsters,' foresters, woodmen.
6.1: The MS. reads 'Braidhouplee' for the first 'Bradyslee.'
6.2: 'buss,' bush.
7.1: 'lap,' leapt.
7.4: 'stem'd,' stopped, stayed.
8.4: 'but and,' and.
10.4: 'drie,' hold out, be able.
12.2: 'scroggs,' underwood.
12.3: 'well-wight,' stalwart.
13.3: 'American leather.' A patent for making morocco from American
horsehides was granted c. 1799, but the date of this text is
twenty years earlier than that date.
15.1: 'ae' (y in the MS.), one. Cf. 21.3.
18.3: 'belive,' quickly.
19.3: 'wan,' won, reached.
19.4: The MS. gives 'bord (or bood) words.'
20.1, 21.1: The MS. gives 'boy' for 'bird.']