Songs by Robert Burns

Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars song book

Epitaph on Captain Matthew Henderson

       G
Stop, passer-by! my story's brief,	
                      D
  And truth I shall relate, man;	
   C 
I tell nae common tale o' grief,
	  G            Em
  For Matthew was a great man.	
    G      D      Em    D
If thou uncommon merit hast,
        G                   D
  Yet spurn'd at Fortune's door, man;	
   Em      D    G      D
A look of pity hither cast,	
       Em            D    G
  For Matthew was a poor man.	
 
If thou a noble sodger art,	
  That passest by this grave, man;	
There moulders here a gallant heart,	
  For Matthew was a brave man.	
If thou on men, their works and ways,	
  Canst throw uncommon light, man;	
Here lies wha weel had won thy praise,
  For Matthew was a bright man.	
 
If thou, at Friendship's sacred ca',	
  Wad life itself resign, man:	
Thy sympathetic tear maun fa',	
  For Matthew was a kind man.	
If thou art staunch, without a stain,	
  Like the unchanging blue, man;	
This was a kinsman o' thy ain,	
  For Matthew was a true man.	
 
If thou hast wit, and fun, and fire,
  And ne'er guid wine did fear, man;	
This was thy billie, dam, and sire,	
  For Matthew was a queer man.	
If ony whiggish, whingin' sot,	
  To blame poor Matthew dare, man;
May dool and sorrow be his lot,	
  For Matthew was a rare man.	
 
(But now, his radiant course is run,	
  For Matthew's was a bright one!	
His soul was like the glorious sun,	
  A matchless, Heavenly light, man.)




Arrangement © 2009 Bob Hay (BMI). All Rights Reserved.