When Januar' wind was blawing cauld,
As to the north I took my way,
The mirksome night did me enfauld,
I knew na where to lodge till day:
By my gude luck a maid I met,
Just in the middle o' my care,
And kindly she did me invite
To walk into a chamber fair.
I bow'd fu' low unto this maid,
And thank'd her for her courtesie;
I bow'd fu' low unto this maid,
An' bade her make a bed to me;
She made the bed baith large and wide,
Wi' twa white hands she spread it doun;
She put the cup to her rosy lips,
And drank—"Young man, now sleep ye soun'."
Chorus—The bonie la** made the bed to me,
The braw la** made the bed to me,
I'll ne'er forget till the day I die,
The la** that made the bed to me.
She snatch'd the candle in her hand,
And frae my chamber went wi' speed;
But I call'd her quickly back again,
To lay some mair below my head:
A cod she laid below my head,
And served me with due respect,
And, to salute her wi' a kiss,
I put my arms about her neck.
The bonie la**, &c.
"Haud aff your hands, young man!" she said,
"And dinna sae uncivil be;
Gif ye hae ony luve for me,
O wrang na my virginitie."
Her hair was like the links o' gowd,
Her teeth were like the ivorie,
Her cheeks like lilies dipt in wine,
The la** that made the bed to me:
The bonie la**, &c.
Her bosom was the driven snaw,
Twa drifted heaps sae fair to see;
Her limbs the polish'd marble stane,
The la** that made the bed to me.
I kiss'd her o'er and o'er again,
And aye she wist na what to say:
I laid her 'tween me and the wa';
The la**ie thocht na lang till day.
The bonie la**, &c.
Upon the morrow when we raise,
I thank'd her for her courtesie;
But aye she blush'd and aye she sigh'd,
And said, "Alas, ye've ruin'd me."
I claps'd her waist, and kiss'd her syne,
While the tear stood twinkling in her e'e;
I said, my la**ie, dinna cry.
For ye aye shall make the bed to me.
The bonie la**, &c.
She took her mither's holland sheets,
An' made them a' in sarks to me;
Blythe and merry may she be,
The la** that made the bed to me.
Chorus—The bonie la** made the bed to me,
The braw la** made the bed to me.
I'll ne'er forget till the day I die,
The la** that made the bed to me.