O can ye labour lea

O, can ye labour lea, young man,
O, can ye labour lea?
Gae back the gate ye came again
Ye's never scorn me!

I fee'd a man at Martinmas
Wi' airle-pennies three;
But a' the faut I had to him
He couldna labour lea.

O, clappin's guid in Febarwar,
An' kissin's sweet in May;
But what signifies a young man's love,
An't dinna last for ay?

O, kissin is the key o' love
An' clappin is the lock;
An' makin of's the best thing
That e'er a young thing got!

O, can ye labour lea, young man,
O, can ye labour lea?
Gae back the gate ye came again
Ye's never scorn me!