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