Annotation:Peer of Leith (The)

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PEER OF LEITH, THE. AKA - "Young Philander." Scottish, Slow Air (4/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). ABBC. The music and words are printed in Orpheus Caledonius (Song 29), and go:

Young Philander woo'd me lang,
But I was peevish, and forbad him,
I wadna tent his loving Sang,
But now I wish, I wish I had him:
Ilk Morning when I view my Glass,
The I perceive my Beauty going;
And when the Wrinkles frize the Face,
The we may bid adieu to wooing.

My Beauty, anes so much admir'd,
I find it fading fast, and flying;
My Chiiks, which Coral like appear'd,
Grow pale, the broken Blood decaying;
Ah! we may see our selves to be,
Like Summer Fruit that is unshaken;
When ripe, the soon fall down and die,
And by Corruption quickly taken.

Use then your Time, ye Virgins fair,
Employ your Day before 'tis evil;
Fifteen is a Season rare,
But five and twenty is the Devil.
Just when ripe, consent unto't,
Hug nae mair your lanely Pillow;
Women are like other Fruit,
They lose their Relish when too mellow.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: McGibbon (Scots Tunes, book II), c. 1746; p. 38.

Recorded sources:

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