Could this ill world have been contriv'd, WoO 108 No.16-Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

[00:16.63]Could this ill world have been contriv'd [00:21.07]to stand without that mischief, woman, [00:26.75]how peaceful bodies wou'd have liv'd, [00:30.11]releas'd frae a' the ills sae common! [00:35.65]But since it is the waefu' case, [00:39.19]that man must have this teasing crony, [00:42.35]why such a sweet bewitching face? [00:48.71]Oh! had they no been made sae bonny! [01:01.98]I might have roam'd wi' cheerful mind, [01:05.43]nae sin nor sorrow to betide me, [01:11.21]as careless as the wand'ring wind, [01:14.54]as happy as the lamb beside me. [01:20.29]I might have screw'd my tuneful pegs, [01:23.63]and carol'd mountain airs fu' gayly, [01:27.15]had we but wanted a' the Megs, [01:33.74]wi' glossy e'en sae dark and wily. [01:46.52]I saw the danger, fear'd the dart, [01:49.79]the smile, the air, and a' sae taking, [01:55.65]yet open laid my wareless heart, [01:59.15]and got the wound that keeps me waking. [02:04.88]My harp waves on the willow green, [02:08.26]of wild witch notes it has nae ony, [02:11.66]sinc' e'er I saw that pawky quean, [02:18.16]sae sweet, sae wicked, and sae bonny.