The cows have come home, but I saw not my laddie The cows have come home, but I saw not my bairn I'd rather lose them than lose my laddie I'd rather lose a cow than lose my bairn Fair-faced is my laddie, his blue eyes is shining His hair in gold ringlets hangs sweet to my sight So mount the old pony and gang and seek after him Bring to his mammy her only delight For he's always out roamin' the long summer day thro He's always out roamin' away from the farm Thro' hedges and ditches and valleys and fellsides I hope that my bairnie has come to no harm For I've searched in the meadow and in the flower-acre Thro' stockyards and byres, but nothing could I find So, off ye gang, daddy, and look for your laddie And bring to his mammy some peace to her mind For the cows have come home, but I saw not my laddie The cows have come home, but I saw not my bairn I'd rather lose a cow than lose my laddie I'd rather lose a cow than lose my bairn