Last year at Lady Mary's fair when I was in Dundee

I fell in with an old sweetheart and he being on a spree

His company I did accept and with him I did go

But to my sad misfortune it proved my poor 'through 

We wandered east we wandered west we wandered through the lawn

He said he'd see me home that night but home I never saw

He kept beside me all the while resolved to have his will

And by and by we lost our way, at the back of Rare's Hill



For when we got to Rare's Hill, the laddie said to me

We can't go home tonight my dear, it's far to late you'll see

But the night is warm and in my bush, I've got another drill

And we can lie down here, content, at the back of Rare's Hill



For then he poured a nipper piece to quiet all alarm

When I awoke in the morning we were locked in each other's arms

He handed me the bottle, another glass to fill

And I drank his heath, in store o'wealth, at the back of Rare's Hill



And then the lad he said to me, "Oh lassie do not mourn"

"For while I draw the breath of life from you I'll never harm"

"If you will come to yonder town, my wedded wife you'll be"

"we'll be the happiest couple t'was ever in Dundee"



So it's may I never prosper, and may I never thrive

In anything I take in hand as long as I'm alive

If e'er I say I rue the day, my laddie had his will

Success to Lady Mary's fair, and the back of Rare's Hill.