Go tae sleep mi bonny bairnie
The Moon is keekin ower the brae
And by oor hame the river’s flowin
Frae Lowther Hills tae Berwick bay
Courie in mi bonny bairnie
Happed up warm in a cloot o tweed
While salmon dart in the cauld derk watter
As the heron sleeps amang the reeds
This day was dreich mi bonny bairnie
The wind and rain, birled and blaw
You were crabbit and I am scunnered
But at last this drookit day is owur
So nae mair greetin bonny bairnie
Soon we’ll hear the mornin sounds
Creatures wakin owerby Tweed Watter
Kingfishers, ducks and geese and swans
Go tae sleep mi bonny bairnie
Owerheid’s a clear and barrie sky
We’ll let the river tak oor worries
And listen tae its lullaby
The poem uses dialect from the Scottish Borders
Such as
Courie – to cuddle
Happed up – wrapped up
Cloot- cloth
Barrie- good, fine, excellent, brilliant
Crabbit- bad tempered
Skunnerd- fed up
Further reference
https://d3lmsxlb5aor5x.cloudfront.net/library/document/100 Key Borders words.pdf
