[A composite volume : containing The ballads and songs of Ayrshire ...

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DANIEL BARR.
The lassies they a' like Daniel Barr,
The weans gather round about Daniel Barr,
And the tentie guidewife, though baith frugal and snar.
Is aye kind and couthie to Daniel Barr,
He makes himsel' usefu' in mony a way,
He'll thrash, ca' the fanners, or buttle the strae,
Or delve, fill the dung cart, and clawt up the glar,
Sae obliging and helpfu' is Daniel Barr.
And aye welcome back again 's Daniel Barr,
There's aye plenty ready for Daniel Barr,
And whiles a bit glass out the muckle brown jar.
To keep up the spirits o' Daniel Barr.
At balls, or at rockings, he tak's them alang,
Wi' the music, the dance, and the tale, and the sang.
Though the nights may be dark, and the win's they may war,
Big parties assemble round Daniel Barr.
What wad our youths do wanting Daniel Barr
Sae enticing the strains o' Daniel Barr,
That they're seen straggling hame by the bright morning star,
Frae the mirth and the music o' Daniel Barr.
Would you hear him perform, ask " Macpherson's Lament,"
The mellow " Lea rigg," and the " Unco bit Want,"
" Gow's Farewell to Whisky," or brisk " Jacky Tar,"
And ye'U fin' there's some music in Daniel Barr.
A soul fu' o' music has Daniel Barr,
But that's no' the best part o' Daniel Barr
He has failings, nae doubt, but he's honest and squar.
An' that says a guid deal for Daniel Barr.
There's Walker and Carsewell, and Josie Strathern,
Though far they excel, yet they've muckle to leara ;
Sae Dan and thae chieftains ai'e just on a par.
They but play as they can—sae does Daniel Barr.
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