When mist nae langer hides the brae,
An' rain cluds flee afore the sun,
Wi' rod in han' I slowly gang
Awa' tae fish in Mennock Burn.
Dear Mennock Burn! What memories cling
Roon ilka bend that's in thy course;
For happy 'oors I spent in youth
I thank thee for them wert the source.
I've fished ye when the days were short,
I've fished ye when the days were lang
(An' whiles wee Davy was my mate,
An' whiles it was his brither Tam).
Frae Mossburn doon by Whitchincleuch,
An' by the path that maks Glenym
Tae whaur yer waters when in spate
Gang roarin' owre the Horseman Linn;
An' then a wee bit farer on
(I min' we got a hearty lauch
When silly Rab fell in the burn)
Whaur waters flow frae dark Glenclauch.
Those happy days are langsyne gane
An' I am weirin' on in life;
My pleasure's a' in lookin' back:
There's naething noo but care and strife.
When Nature fails an' I maun bend
An' fade jist like a witherin' tree,
Beside ye, gin I hae my wish,
I fain will lay me doon an' dee.