Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 33
Kempy Kay
Version F

Campbell Manuscripts, II, 101.

Narrative

1   As I cam oer yon misty muir,
And oer yon grass-green hill,
There I saw a campy carle
Going to the mill.
      And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,
      And bar ay yer bower door weel.
2   I lookit in at her window,
And in at her hove hole,
And there I saw a fousome fag,
Cowering oer a coal.
      And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,
      And bar ay yer bower door weel.
3   'Get up, get up, ye fousome fag,
And make yer face fou clean;
For the wooers will be here the night,
And your body will be seen.'
      And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,
      And bar ay yer bower door weel.
4   He gave her a gay cravat,
'Twas of an auld horse-sheet;
He gave her a gay goud ring,
'Twas of an auld tree root.
      And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,
      And bar ay yer bower door weel.
5   He laid his arms about her neck,
They were like kipple-roots;
And aye he kissd her wi his lips,
They were like meller's hoops.
      And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,
      And bar ay yer bower door weel.
6   When they were laid in marriage bed,
And covered oer wi fail,
The knocking mell below their heads
Did serve them wondrous weel.
      And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,
      And bar ay yer bower door weel.
7   Ilka pap into her breasts
Was like a saffron bag,
And aye his hand at her a . . e
Was tearing up the scabs.
      And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,
      And bar ay yer bower door weel.
8   Ilka hair into her head
Was like a heather-cow,
And ilka louse that lookit out
Was like a brookit ewe.
      And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,
      And bar ay yer bower door weel.

This page most recently updated on 05-Mar-2011, 16:13:46.
Return to main index