My Ain Fireside

Elizabeth Hamilton (1758–1816)

I HAE see great anes and sat in great ha’s,

’Mang lords and fine ladies a’ covered wi’ braws,

At feasts made for princes wi’ princes I ’ve been,

When the grand shine o’ splendor has dazzled my een;

But a sight sae delightfu’ I trow I ne’er spied

As the bonny blithe blink o’ my ain fireside.

My ain fireside, my ain fireside,

O, cheery ’s the blink o’ my ain fireside;

My ain fireside, my ain fireside,

O, there ’s naught to compare wi’ ane’s ain fireside.

Ance mair, Gude be thankit, round my ain heartsome ingle,

Wi’ the friends o’ my youth I cordially mingle;

Nae forms to compel me to seem wae or glad,

I may laugh when I ’m merry, and sigh when I ’m sad.

Nae falsehood to dread, and nae malice to fear,

But truth to delight me, and friendship to cheer;

Of a’ roads to happiness ever were tried,

There ’s nane half so sure as ane’s ain fireside.

My ain fireside, my ain fireside,

O, there ’s naught to compare wi’ ane’s ain fireside.

When I draw in my stool on my cozy hearthstane,

My heart loups sae light I scarce ken ’t for my ain;

Care ’s down on the wind, it is clean out o’ sight,

Past troubles they seem but as dreams o’ the night.

I hear but kend voices, kend faces I see,

And mark saft affection glent fond frae ilk ee;

Nae fleechings o’ flattery, nae boastings o’ pride,

’T is heart speaks to heart at ane’s ain fireside.

My ain fireside, my ain fireside,

O, there ’s naught to compare wi’ ane’s ain fireside.