University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
collapse sectionVIII. 
expand section226. 
expand section227. 
expand section228. 
expand section229. 
expand section230. 
expand section231. 
expand section232. 
expand section233. 
expand section234. 
collapse section235. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section236. 
expand section237. 
expand section238. 
expand section239. 
expand section240. 
expand section241. 
expand section242. 
expand section243. 
expand section244. 
expand section245. 
expand section246. 
expand section247. 
expand section248. 
expand section249. 
expand section250. 
expand section251. 
expand section252. 
expand section253. 
expand section254. 
expand section255. 
expand section256. 
expand section257. 
expand section258. 
expand section259. 
expand section260. 
expand section261. 
expand section262. 
expand section263. 
expand section264. 
expand section265. 
expand sectionIX. 


106

The Cooper of Fife

THE WIFE WRAPT IN WETHER'S SKIN—C

[_]

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

‘Oh, 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.