I CANNA LEAVE MY NATIVE LAND.

I canna leave my native land,

I canna sail the sea;

The trees around my cottage stand,

The gowans deck the lea;

The primrose blooms beside the burn,

The wild flower on the brae;

To leave them a' my heart wad mourn,

I canna gang away.

The dew-draps gem the clover leaves,

The laverock sings aboon,

The blae-berry bush wi' spring revives,

And it will blossom soon;

I canna leave the bonnie brae

Where waves the new-sprung fern,

Where oft I 've pass'd the summer's day,

And look'd upon the burn.

I canna leave the green-croft well,

Its waters cool and clear,

For oft its pleasant murmurs dwell

Like music in mine ear;

The elder bush, the garden bower,

Where robin sings sae sweet,

The auld gray dike, the bee-house tower,

The cosie garden seat.