The Shepherd's Wife
Longing and Yearning: The Shepherd's Plea
Lyrics
The Shepherd's wife cries o'er the knowe
The Shepherd's wife is crying over the knowe (hill or knoll).
Will ye come hame, will ye come hame
Asking if the person will come home.
The Shepherd's wife cries o'er the knowe
Repetition of the shepherd's wife crying over the knowe.
Will ye come hame again een, jo
Reiteration of the plea for the person to come home.
O what will ye gie me tae my supper
The wife inquires about what the person will give her for supper.
Gin I come hame, gin I come hame
Asking again if the person will come home.
O what will ye gie me tae my supper
Repeating the question about supper in the context of the person returning.
Gin I come hame again een, jo
Reiteration of the desire for the person to come home.
Ye'se get a panfu' o' plumping parridge
Offering a bowl of hearty porridge with butter if the person returns.
And butter in them, and butter in them
Emphasizing the inclusion of butter in the porridge offer.
Ye'se get a panfu' o' plumping parridge
Repeating the promise of a bowl of plumping porridge if the person comes home.
Gin ye'll come hame again een, jo
Reiteration of the plea for the person to come home.
Ha, ha, how! that's naething that dow
Expressing indifference or refusal to the previous offers.
I winna come hame, I canna come hame
Declaring the unwillingness or inability to come home.
Ha, ha, how! that's naething that dow
Reiteration of the refusal to return home.
I winna come hame again een, jo
Restating the decision not to come home.
A reeking fat hen, weel fryed i' the pan
Offering a well-cooked hen in the pan if the person returns.
Gin ye'll come hame, gin ye'll come hame
Asking again if the person will come home.
A reekin fat hen, weel fryed i' the pan
Repeating the promise of a fried hen if the person returns.
Gin ye'll come hame again e'en jo
Reiteration of the desire for the person to come home.
Ha, ha, how! that's naething that dow
Expressing indifference or refusal to the previous offers.
I winna come hame, I canna come hame
Reaffirming the decision not to come home.
Ha, ha, how! that's naething that dow
Reiteration of the refusal to return home.
I winna come hame again een, jo
Restating the decision not to come home.
A weel made bed and a pair o' clean sheets
Describing a well-prepared bed with clean sheets if the person returns.
Gin ye'll come hame, gin ye'll come hame
Asking again if the person will come home.
A weel made bed and a pair o' clean sheets
Repeating the promise of a comfortable bed with clean sheets if the person returns.
Gin ye'll come hame again een, jo
Reiteration of the desire for the person to come home.
Ha, ha, how! that's naething that dow
Expressing indifference or refusal to the previous offers.
I winna come hame, I canna come hame
Reaffirming the decision not to come home.
Ha, ha, how! that's naething that dow
Reiteration of the refusal to return home.
I winna come hame again een, jo
Restating the decision not to come home.
A luving wife in lily-white linens
Describing a loving wife in clean linens if the person returns.
Gin ye'll come hame, gin ye'll come hame
Asking again if the person will come home.
A luving wife in lily-white linens
Repeating the promise of a loving wife in clean linens if the person returns.
Gin ye'll come hame again een, jo
Reiteration of the desire for the person to come home.
Ha, ha, how! that's something that dow
Expressing satisfaction or agreement with the previous offer.
I will come hame, I will come hame
Affirming the decision to come home.
Ha, ha, how! that's something that dow
Expressing satisfaction or agreement with the decision to come home.
I will come hame again een jo
Reiteration of the affirmation to come home.
Ha, ha, how! that's something that dow
Expressing satisfaction or agreement with the decision to come home.
I will come hame, I will come hame
Affirming the decision to come home.
Ha, ha, how! that's something that dow
Expressing satisfaction or agreement with the decision to come home.
I will come hame again een jo
Reiteration of the affirmation to come home.
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