How hard, O Sawney, is thy lot,
Who was so blithe of late,
To see such meat as can't be got,
When hunger is so great.
O the beef, the bonny bonny beef,
When roasted nice and brown,
I wish I had a slice of thee,
How sweet it would gang down!
Ah, Charley! had'st thou not been seen,
This ne'er had hapt to me;
I would the de'il had pick'd mine e'en
Ere I had gang'd with thee.
O the beef, etc.