“What ails this heart o’ mine?”

Susanna Blamire (1747–1794)

WHAT ails this heart o’ mine?

What ails this watery ee?

What gars me a’ turn pale as death

When I take leave o’ thee?

When thou art far awa’,

Thou ’lt dearer grow to me;

But change o’ place and change o’ folk

May gar thy fancy jee.

When I gae out at e’en,

Or walk at morning air,

Ilk rustling bush will seem to say

I used to meet thee there:

Then I ’ll sit down and cry,

And live aneath the tree,

And when a leaf fa’s i’ my lap,

I ’ll ca ’t a word frae thee.

I ’ll hie me to the bower

That thou wi’ roses tied,

And where wi’ mony a blushing bud

I strove myself to hide.

I ’ll doat on ilka spot

Where I ha’e been wi’ thee;

And ca’ to mind some kindly word

By ilka burn and tree.