Up in the Mornin’ Early, by John Hamilton

John Hamilton (1761-1814) was a Scottish poet, music seller and teacher.  He wrote many fine songs including this rollicking lament about rising early drear, freezing mornin’s, like we’ll see in February.

Cauld blows the wind frae north to south,

    And drift is driving sairly;

The sheep are cowerin’ in the heugh,

    Oh sirs; it’s winter fairly.

Now up in the mornin’s no’ for me,

    Up in the morning’ early

I’d rather gae supperless to my bed,

   Than rise in the mornin’ early.

Loud rairs the blast amang the woods,

    And tirls the branches barely,

On hill and house hear how it thuds!

    And frost is nippin sairly.

Now up in the mornin’s no’ for me,

    Up in the mornin’ early;

To sit a’ nicht wad better agree,

    Than to rise in the mornin’ early.

The sun peeps o’er yon southland hill,

    Like ony tim’rous carlie;

Just blinks a wee, then sinks again,

    And that we find severely.

Now up in the mornin’s no’ for me,

    Up in the mornin’ early;

When snaw blaws in at the chimley cheek,

    Wha’d rise in the mornin’ early.

Nae linties lilt on hedge or bush,

    Poor things, they suffer sairly;

In cauldrife quarters a’ the nicht,

    A’ day they feed but sparely.

Now up in the mornin’s no for me,

    Up in the mornin’ early;

A pennyless purse I wad rather dree,

    Than rise in the mornin’ early.

A cosie house and a canty wife

    Aye keep a body cheerly;

And pantries stored wi’ meat and drink, 

    They answer unco rarely.

But up in the mornin’ —na, na, na!

    Up in the mornin’ early!

The gowans maun glint on bank and brae

    When I rise in the mornin’ early.