Can ye Sew Cushions?
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Can ye sew cushions, an can ye sew sheets?
Can ye sing balulow until the bairn sleeps?
Balulow lammie, Balulow lamb
Balulow lammie, ma bonnie wee oneHee o wee o, what'll I dae wi' ye
Black's the night, but Minnie's here wi' ye
Hee o wee o little for tae gie ye
Hee o wee o what'll I dae wi' ye?I hung thy cradle on yon holly top,
An' aye when the wind blew thy cradle did rock
Ye're rockin' fu' sweetly on Minnie's warm knee
Puir Daddy is rockin' upon the cauld seaHee o wee o, what'll I dae wi' ye
Black's the night, but Minnie's here wi' ye
Hee o wee o little for tae gie ye
Hee o wee o what'll I dae wi' ye?Hush a bye bairnie, hush a bye dear
Does wee lammie ken that yer Daddy's no here?
The wild wind is ravin' thy minnies hairt's sair,
The wild wind is ravin', but ye dinna careHee o wee o, what'll I dae wi' ye
Black's the night, but Minnie's here wi' ye
Hee o wee o little for tae gie ye
Hee o wee o what'll I dae wi' ye?Can ye sew cushions, an can ye sew sheets?
Can ye sing balulow until the bairn sleeps?
Balulow lammie, Balulow dear
Balulow lammie, thy mammie is here
This is a family version which I got from a variety of sources including my aunts Margaret McKirdy and Chrys Todd. There are 'darker' versions in print, particularly in the chorus line which some have as 'Hee o wee o, what'll I dae wi ye, Black's the life that I lead wi ye, O'er many o ye, little for tae gie ye, Hee o wee o what'll I dae wi ye?' The song itself is pretty old, with a version published by Robert Burns.
Glossary:
Balulow - lullaby
Bairn - child, baby
Minnie - Mummy, Mama
An' aye when - every time
