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Robert Burns

GREEN GROW THE RASHES,O
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One of Burns' nicest melodies. There is a growing feeling of Burns "worldly" outlook as the song progresses, and Burns sings the praises of the fairer sex (which he had "various" dealings with, fathering over 11 known illegitamate children). The culmination is naturally in the last verse, where he states that when Mother Nature made man, it was merely an experimental prototype, but reached perfection when making woman.

Green Grow the Rashes, O.
By Robert Burns.

Chorus   Green grow the rashes, O
Green grow the rashes, O
The sweetest hours that e'er I spend
Are spent amoung the lasses, O.

There's nought but care on ev'ry han',
In every hour that passes, O:
What signifies the life o' man,
An' 'twere na for the lasses, O.

The war'ly race may riches chase,
An' riches still may fly them, O;
An' tho' at last they catch them fast
Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them, O!

But gie me a cannie hour at e'en,
My arms about my dearie, O,
An' war'ly cares an' war'ly men
May a' gan tapsalteerie, O!

For you sae douce, ye sneer at this;
Ye're naught but senseless asses, O;
The wisest man the warl' e'er saw, 
He dearly lov'd the lasses, O.

Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears
Her noblest work she classes, O:
Her prentice han' she tried on man,
An' then she made the lasses, O.

Music; traditional. Content copyright © 2000 held by the author; Ian Hall.