The Flowers of the Forest

Lyrics

I've seen the smiling of Fortune beguiling I've tasted her pleasures and felt her decay: Sweet was her blessing, and kind her caressing But now they are fled, fled far away I've seen the forest adorn'd the foremost Wi' flowers o' the fairest, baith pleasant and gay: Sae bonny was their blooming, their scent the air perfuming But now they are wither'd and a'wede away I've seen the morning with gold hills adorning And loud tempests roaring before parting day; I've seen Tweed's silver streams, glitt'ring in the sunny beams Grow drumlie and dark as they roll'd on their way O fickle fortune, why this cruel sporting Why thus perplex us poor sons of a day? Thy frown cannot fear me; thy smile cannot cheer me Since the Flowers o' the Forest are a'wede away