Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 277
The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin
Version C

Whitelaw's Book of Scottish Song, p. 333.

Narrative

1   There was a wee cooper who lived in Fife,
Nickity, nackity, noo, noo, noo
And he has gotten a gentle wife.
Hey Willie Wallacky, how John Dougall,
Alane, quo Rushety, roue, roue, roue
2   She wadna bake, nor she wadna brew,
For the spoiling o her comely hue.
3   She wadna card, nor she wadna spin,
For the shaming o her gentle kin.
4   She wadna wash, nor she wadna wring,
For the spoiling o her gouden ring.
5   The cooper's awa to his woo-pack
And has laid a sheep-skin on his wife's back.
6   'It's I'll no thrash ye, for your proud kin,
But I will thrash my ain sheep-skin.'
7   'Of, I will bake, and I will brew,
And never mair think on my comely hue.
8   'Oh, I will card, and I will spin,
And never mair think on my gentle kin.
9   'Oh, I will wash, and I will wring,
And never mair think on my gouden ring.'
10   A' ye wha hae gotten a gentle wife
Send ye for the wee cooper o Fife.

This page most recently updated on 17-May-2011, 19:00:35.
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