Hallowe'en

The tattie-liftin's nearly through
They're plooin' whaur the barley grew
And efter dark roond ilka stack
You'll see the horsemen stand and crack
O Lachlan, but I mind on you

I mind fu' aften we hae seen
Ten thoosand stars keek doon atween
The naked branches, and below
Baith fairm and bothy hae their show
A-low wi' lichts o' Hallowe'en

There's bairns wi' guizards at their tails
Cloorin' the doors wi' runts o' kail
And aye you'll hear the screechs an' skirls
O' lassies wi' their droukit curls
Bobbin' for aipples i' the pail

The bothy fire is loupin' heat
A new heid-horseman's kist is set
Richt o'er the lum whaur by the blaze
The auld yin stood that kept yer claes
I canna thole tae see it yet

But gin the auld folks' tales are richt
An' ghaists cam hame on Hallow's nicht
Oh freend, oh freends, what would I gie
Tae feel yer hand yer axe tae me
Atween the dark an' coral licht

Awa' in France across the wave
The wee lichts burn on ilka grave
An' you an' me their lowes hae seen
Ye'll maybe hae yer Hallowe'en
Yont whaur you're lyin' way the lave

There's drink an' daff an' sang an' dance
An' ploys an' kisses get their chance
But Lachlan, man, the place I see
Is whaur the auld kist used tae be
An' the lichts o' Hallowe'en in France