The Hairst O Rettie (Burns)

I hae seen the hairst o' Rettie, lads,

And twa-three aff the throne.

I've heard o sax and seven weeks

The hairsters girn and groan.

But wi' a covie Willie Rae

A monthie an' a day

Sends a' the jolly hairsters

Singin' blithely doon the brae.

In a monthie an' a day, my lads,

The like was never seen;

It beats to sticks the fastest strips

O' Vickers' best machine.

The Speedwell she taks up the rear,

The Victory clears the way;

And twenty acres daily yields,

Laid doon tae Willie Rae.

He drives them roond and roond the field

At sic an awfu' rate:

Yet guides them gently oot and in

At mony's a kittle gate.

And wiles them gently ow'r the steens

And mony a hidden hole,

And he'll come by nae mishanter

If ye leave him wi' a pole.

O he sharps their teeth tae gar them bite;

He taps them on the jaws,

And if he sees them dowie-like,

He'll brawly ken the cause:

A boltie here, or a pinnie there,

Tae keep them aye in tune;

He'll quickly stop their wild career,

And bring the clishack doon.

Noo he's nae made up wi' mony words

Or kent tae puff and lee,

But just as keen a little chap

As ony you will see.

And if you're in search o hairvest work

Upon a market day,

Take my advice, be there in time

And look for Willie Rae.

Noo here's tae a' ye Rettie blades,

A ringin' cheer - Hurra!

A better lot o' workin' chaps

A gaffer never saw.

They're aye sae willin' for tae pairt,

And eager for the fray

It was them that made the boatie row,

That was steer'd by Willie Rae.

The Hairst O’ Rettie is a ballad from the 1800’s which tells the changes brought to agricultural life when the scythe was replaced by the back delivery reaper.