| |
| BEHAVE yoursel’ before folk, | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk, | |
| And dinna be sae rude to me, | |
| As kiss me sae before folk. | |
| It wouldna give me meikle pain, | 5 |
| Gin we were seen and heard by nane, | |
| To tak’ a kiss, or grant you ane; | |
| But gudesake! no before folk. | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk, | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk,— | 10 |
| Whate’er you do when out o’ view, | |
| Be cautious aye before folk! | |
| |
| Consider, lad, how folks will crack, | |
| And what a great affair they ’ll mak’ | |
| O’ naething but a simple smack, | 15 |
| That ’s gi’en or ta’en before folk. | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk, | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk,— | |
| Nor gi’e the tongue o’ old and young | |
| Occasion to come o’er folk. | 20 |
| |
| I ’m sure wi’ you I ’ve been as free | |
| As ony modest lass should be; | |
| But yet it doesna do to see | |
| Sic freedom used before folk. | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk, | 25 |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk,— | |
| I ’ll ne’er submit again to it; | |
| So mind you that—before folk! | |
| |
| Ye tell me that my face is fair: | |
| It may be sae—I dinna care— | 30 |
| But ne’er again gar’t blush so sair | |
| As ye hae done before folk. | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk, | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk, | |
| Nor heat my cheeks wi’ your mad freaks, | 35 |
| But aye be douce before folk! | |
| |
| Ye tell me that my lips are sweet: | |
| Sic tales, I doubt, are a’ deceit;— | |
| At ony rate, it ’s hardly meet | |
| To prie their sweets before folk. | 40 |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk, | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk,— | |
| Gin that ’s the case, there ’s time and place, | |
| But surely no before folk! | |
| |
| But gin ye really do insist | 45 |
| That I should suffer to be kissed, | |
| Gae get a license frae the priest, | |
| And mak’ me yours before folk! | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk, | |
| Behave yoursel’ before folk,— | 50 |
| And when we ’re ane, baith flesh and bane, | |
| Ye may tak’ ten—before folk! | |
| |
