FAREWELL TO THE BANKS OF AYR FAREWELL TO THE BANKS OF AYR THE gloomy night is gath'ring fast, The Autumn mourns her rip'ning corn 'Tis not the surging billow's roar, But round my heart the ties are bound, Farewell, old Coila's hills and dales,1 Farewell, my friends! farewell, my foes! 1 Kyle was named after King Coil who was buried near Montgomery Castle, which is sometimes called Coilsfield House. THE BANKS O' DOON THE BANKS O' DOON YE banks and braes o' bonie Doon, How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair? How can ye chant, ye little birds, And I sae weary fu' o' care? Thou'll break my heart, thou warbling bird, That wantons thro' the flowering thorn: Thou minds me o' departed joys, Departed never to return. Aft hae I rov'd by bonie Doon, To see the rose and woodbine twine; And ilka bird sang o' its Luve, THE FAREWELL1 TO THE BRETHREN OF ST. JAMES'S LODGE, TARBOLTON ADIEU! a heart-warm, fond adieu; Oft have I met your social band, And spent the cheerful, festive night: Which none but Craftsmen ever saw! Strong Mem'ry on my heart shall write Those happy scenes, when far awa' May Freedom, Harmony, and Love, The glorious Architect Divine, Written when he expected to sail to Jamaica. THE FAREWELL That you may keep th' unerring line, And you, farewell! whose merits claim |