The Rowan Tree
by Carolina Nairne (1766 - 1845)
Oh rowan tree, oh rowan tree
Thou'lt aye be dear to me
Entwined thou art wi' many ties
Of hame and infancy
Thy leaves were aye the first of spring
Thy flowers the summer's pride
There was nae such a bonnie tree
In all the country side
How fair were thou in summer time
With all thy clusters white
How rich and gay thy autumn dress,
Wi' berries red and bright.
On thy fair stem were many names
Which now no more I see
But they're engraven on my heart,
Forget they ne'er can be
We sat beneath thy spreadin' shade
The bairnies round thee ran
They pu'd thy bonnie berries red,
And necklaces they strang
My mother, oh! I see her still,
She smiled our sports to see
With little Jeannie on her lap,
And Jamie on her knee.
