The cows have come home, but I saw not my laddie
The cows have come home, but I saw not my bairn
I'd rather lose them than lose my laddie
I'd rather lose a cow than lose my bairn
Fair-faced is my laddie, his blue eyes is shining
His hair in gold ringlets hangs sweet to my sight
So mount the old pony and gang and seek after him
Bring to his mammy her only delight
For he's always out roamin' the long summer day thro
He's always out roamin' away from the farm
Thro' hedges and ditches and valleys and fellsides
I hope that my bairnie has come to no harm
For I've searched in the meadow and in the flower-acre
Thro' stockyards and byres, but nothing could I find
So, off ye gang, daddy, and look for your laddie
And bring to his mammy some peace to her mind
For the cows have come home, but I saw not my laddie
The cows have come home, but I saw not my bairn
I'd rather lose a cow than lose my laddie
I'd rather lose a cow than lose my bairn
