Was tae edinburgh toon frae the heilands that I came
Tae prosper in business Callum Ross was my name
In a fine ouse of Canongate I took myself a room
Midst the titled and the gentry of auld edinburgh toon
Which a letter of introduction and a small amount of gold
I was about to make my mark, I was young, I was bold
I flattered the ladies, I made fun with the gents
Soon my presence was requested at all the fine events
But I tried of the gentry being a lad of the land
The dining and the wining well it all became so bland
And startet to roving out in the cowgate and west port
Bad behavior and bad company I started to court
Down in the howffs there was music, there was fun
And I soon became acquainted with the ale and the rum
Midst the frolic and the gambling by fate or just by chance
It was there that I met her and we laughed and we danced
She riled me, she beguiled me, she robbed me of sense
She teased me, and she pleased me, well I had no defense
I was lost like a fool, I didn't even care
A wild gypsy child with the long raven hair
I knew from the first she would be ruin me
Her form was firm and perfect her hair wild and free
And as I laydown beside her night after night
She drank of my spirit and she took all of my fight
Being weakened by drink I being drained of my soul
I was lost in a half world, I was out of control
And the money I was squandering was not of my own
It belonged to my laird it was only on loan
To Mary Kings close for rooming we upped and we went
Fleeing my fine lodgings for fear of the rent
She taught me her sleekit ways of how to steal a purse
On the day that I met the girl I was plainly cursed
So the thieving and robbing it soon became our way?
We were out about our evil work by night and every day
But we would gamble our spoil if not we'd drink it dry
And we became more desperate as each day went by
She riled me, she beguiled me she robbed me of sense
She teased me, and she pleased me, well I had no defense
I was lost like a fool but I didn't even care with the long raven hair
So down by the west bow on a dreich wintry night
Twas there a drunken merchant came into our sight