O, Wha Is This Comin'? Poem by Carolina Oliphant

O wha is this comin', the folk are a' rinnin',
Rin, Jeanie, rin fast, or the show will be past,
Rin, rin, an' bring word to me.
For there's somebody comin',
There's fifin' and drummin',
The folk are a' rinnin' to see;
If ye dinna rin fast, the show will be past,
Oh! I wonder wha it can be?


Sandy.

Oh! is it the Provost, and Toun Council a',
Or is it the Shirra', wi' limbs o' the law;
Or the braw paper Lords, in their wigs and their robes,
An' trumpets that loudly do blaw?
The bells are a' ringin', the folk are a' singin',
Sic a steer the toun never saw;
A' guess you will see 'tis our ain M.P.
That's chair'd in spite o' them a'.
For there's somebody comin',
There's fifin' and drummin',
The folk are a' rinnin' to see;
If ye dinna rin fast, the show will be past,
Oh! I wonder wha it can be?


Jeanie.

It's nane o' them a', but it's better than a',
'Tis our ain dear Laird, that's come hame;
Wi' a heart that is to Scotland true blue,
We'll welcome him back to his ain.
Oh! the banner o' blue, the banner o' blue,
Aye he held by the banner o' blue;
A' Scotland's strife and perils he shared,
An' Heaven be praised his life has been spared.
An' that's wha is comin',
Nae wonder we're rinnin',
Baith laddies and lassies an' a',
Wi' fifin' an' drummin', the folk are a' comin'
To welcome the Laird to his ha'.


Sandy.

The Laird! oh, it's owre gude news to be true;
Oh, Jeanie, I'll now rin faster than you,
Wi' our band, and our flags, and banner o' blue,
We'll bring back the Laird to his ha'.
Sae loudly we'll cheer, -
The hills far and near
Will echo our hearty hurra;
He's been lang awa', but he's back 'mang us a',
Wave your bannets, and join our hurra!