Skyline Riders and Other Verses

The Scots

(A Dirge)

Henry Lawson


BLACK SCOTS and red Scots,
    Red Scots and black;
I hae dealt wi’ the red Scot,
    An’ dealt wi’ the black.

The Red Scot is angry
    Among the sons o’ men—
He’ll pay you a bawbee,
    An’ steal it back again.

Black Scots and red Scots,
    Red Scots and black;
I hae dealt wi’ the red Scot,
    An’ dealt wi’ the black.

The Black Scot is frien’ly—
    A brither an’ a’—
He’ll pay you a bawbee,
    An’ steal back twa.

The Ginger Scot o’ a’ Scots,
    The warst shade o’ Scot,
For he’ll pay ye naething,
    An’ tak’ a’ you’ve got.

Black Scots and red Scots,
    Short Scots an’ lang,
Ginger Scots an’ bald Scots—
    I dealt wi’ the gang.


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