Ballade of the Royal Game of Golf

Ballade of the Royal Game of Golf

Original Text
The Poetical Works of Andrew Lang, ed. Mrs. Lang, 4 vols. (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1923): II, 73-74. British Library 011645.ee.47
(EAST FIFE)
1THERE are laddies will drive ye a ba'
2To the burn frae the farthermost tee;
3But ye mauna think driving is a',
4Ye may heel her, and send her ajee,
5Ye may land in the sand or the sea;
6And ye're dune, sir, ye're no worth a preen,
7Tak' the word that an auld man 'll gie,
8Tak' aye tent to be up on the green!
9The auld folk are crouse, and they craw
10That their putting is pawky and slee;
11In a bunker they're nae gude ava',
12But to girn, and to gar the sand flee.
13And a lassie can putt -- ony she, --
14Be she Maggy, or Bessie, or Jean;
15But a cleek-shot's the billy for me,
16Tak' aye tent to be up on the green!
17I hae play'd in the frost and the thaw,
18I hae play'd since the year thirty-three,
19I hae play'd in the rain and the snaw,
20And I trust I may play till I dee;
21And I tell ye the truth and nae lee,
22For I speak o' the thing I hae seen --
23Tom Morris, I ken, will agree --
24Tak' aye tent to be up on the green!
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25Prince, faith you're improving a wee,
26And, Lord, man! they tell me you're keen;
27Tak' the best o' advice that can be,
28Tak' aye tent to be up on the green!

Notes

1] ba': ball. Back to Line
2] burn: brook.
tee: place at which a golf hole begins. Back to Line
4] heel: hit with the back end of the club-head, nearest the golfer.
ajee: crookedly. Back to Line
6] preen: pin. Back to Line
8] "Always be sure to hit onto the putting green." Back to Line
9] auld: old.
crouse: crabby.
craw: crow. Back to Line
10] pawky and slee: artful and sly. Back to Line
11] ava': at all. Back to Line
12] girn: snarl.
gar: make. Back to Line
15] cleek: long iron club.
billy: fellow. Back to Line
17] thaw: melt. Back to Line
23] Tom Morris: early multiple Open champion (and greenskeeper) from St. Andrew's. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 2001
Rhyme
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