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.