Withoot a Licht

If you got out withoot a licht,

Although the moon is shinin’ bricht,

You needna coont bein’ oot o’ sicht

O’ R.I.C.

You’re sure tae get a sudden fricht,

’Tween you an’ me.

If you wud rin the risk tae try

A wee bit fitpad on the sly,

He’s there as sure as daith tae spy

What you’ve been daein’;

While you may think tae slip him by —

An’ inward prayin’.

Yer lamp’s weel filled, but licht you can’t,

Because you fin’ a match you want;

An’ be you sinner, be you saint,

There’s nae remead;

The pleeceman’s heart’s like adamant —

Withoot the gleed.

The water micht be juist rin oot,

Tae wat the stuff ’at mak’s the scoot,

An’ there’s nae gas licht then aboot —

On your road hame;

An’ while ye bliss him, brench and root,

He tak’s yer name.

He’s there at nicht, he’s there at morn,

An’ maistly luckin’ gye forlorn,

But there on orders, I’ll be sworn —

No’ pleesure bent;

It’s no his weesh, his boots ir wirn,

But ’cause he’s sent.

But then if we wud a’ be guid,

An’ no’ transgress, there’d be nae need

Tae keep him there ava tae lead

This lonely life;

The pleeceman micht be ower the gleed

Wi’ weans an’ wife.

I wudna for a wee rid coo

Be catched by yin till winter’s through,

An’ if he juist wud tell me hoo

Tae dodge the time,

I’ll see he gets a rise o’ screw

In my nixt rhyme.