281. The Keach I The Creel
281a: The Keach I The Creel
281a.1 A Fair young may went up the street,
Some white-fish for to buy,
And a bonnie clerks faen in love wi her,
And hes followed her by and by, by,
And hes followed her by and by.
281a.2 O where live ye, my bonnie lass,
I pray thee tell to me;
For gin the nicht were ever sae mirk
I wad come and visit thee.
281a.3 O my father he aye locks the door,
My mither keeps the key;
And gin ye were ever sic a wily wight
Ye canna win in to me.
281A.4 the clerk he had ae true brother,
And a wily wight was he;
And he has made a lang ladder,
Was thirty steps and three.
281A.5 He has made a cleek but and a creel,
A creel but and a pin;
And hes away to the chimley-top,
And hes letten the bonnie clerk in.
281A.6 The auld wife, being not asleep,
Heard something that was said;
Ill lay my life, quo the silly auld wife,
Theres a man i our dochters bed.
281A.7 The auld man he gat owre the bed,
To see if the thing was true;
But shes taen the bonny clerk in her arms,
And coverd him owre wi blue.
281a.8 O where are ye gaun now, father? she says,
And where are ye gaun sae late?
Yeve disturbd me in my evening prayers,
And O but they were sweet!
281a.9 O ill betide ye, silly auld wife,
And an ill death may ye die!
She has the muckle buik in her arms,
And shes prayin for you and me.
281a.10 The auld wife being not asleep,
Then something mair was said;
Ill lay my life, quo the silly auld wife,
Theres a man i our dochters bed.
281a.11 The auld wife she got owre the bed,
To see if the thing was true;
But what the wrack took the auld wifes fit?
For into the creel she flew.
281a.12 The man that was at the chimley-top,
Finding the creel was fu,
He wrappit the rape round his left shouther,
And fast to him he drew.
281a.13 O help! O help! O hinny, now, help!
O help, O hinny, now!
For him that ye aye wished me to
Hes carryin me off just now.
281a.14 O if the foul thiefs gotten ye,
I wish he may keep his haud;
For a the lee lang winter nicht
Yell never lie in your bed.
281a.15 Hes towed her up, hes towed her down,
Hes towed her through an through;
O Gude assist! quo the silly auld wife,
For Im just departin now.
281a.16 Hes towed her up, hes towed her down,
Hes gien her a richt down-fa,
Till every rib i the auld wifes side
Playd nick-nack on the wa.
281a.17 O the blue, the bonnie, bonnie blue,
And I wish the blue may do weel!
And every auld wife thats sae jealous o her dochter,
May she get a good keach i the creel!
281b: The Keach I The Creel
281b.1 As bonnie may went up the street,
Some sweetmeats for to buy,
There was a young clerk followed after her,
And followed her by and by, by,
And followed her by and by.
281B.2 Its bonnie may, where do you stay?
Or where is t that you be?
Oh if the night be neer so dark,
Awat Ill come and visit thee.
281B.3 My father locks the door at een,
My mother keeps the key;
Gin ye were neer sic a rovin blade,
Ye canna win in to me.
281B.4 The young clerk has a young brither,
And a wily wag was he;
Hes made to him a long ladder,
Wi thirty steps and three.
281B.5 And hes put it to the chimney-top,
And the creel hes put on a pin,
And hes put it to the chimney-top,
And hes let the young clerk in.
281B.6 The auld wife she was standing by,
She heard a word was said;
I could lay my life, said the silly auld wife,
Theres a man in oor dochters bed.
281B.7 The auld man he cam doun the stairs
To see if it were true;
The young clerk was lying in bonnie mays arms,
And shes covered him oer wi blue.
281B.8 Where are you goin, dear father? she says,
Where are you going so late?
You stopped me of my evening prayers,
And oh, but they were sweet!
281B.9 The deil tak you, ye silly auld wife,
And an ill death may ye dee!
For your dochter was lyin wi the book in her arms,
And shes praying for you and me.
281b.10 The auld wife still standin no far by,
Still hearin a word, she said,
Ye may say as ye like, ye silly auld man,
Theres a man in oor dochters bed.
281b.11 I dinna ken whats taen the auld wifes fit,
But into the creel she flew;
The young clerk[s brither] being at the chimney-top,
He found the creel was fu.
281b.12 Hes thrown the rope out-owre his shouther,
And to him he did draw;
Hes drawn her up, hes drawn her doun,
Hes drawn her through and through.
281b.13 Till the auld wife she began to cry,
Im just departin noo!
But aye he drew her up and doun,
And drew her through and through.
281b.14 Hes drawn her up, hes let her doun,
Hes gien her evendoun fall,
Till every rib on the auld wifes side
Played nick-nack on the wall.
281b.15 Its O the blue, the bonnie, bonnie blue,
I wish the blue may do weel!
For every auld wife that is jealous o her dochter
May be rockit to the d l in a creel!
281c: The Keach I The Creel
281c.1 As I gaed down to Collistown,
Some white-fish for to buy, buy,
The cunning clerk he followed me,
And he followed me speedily, ly,
And he followed me speedily.
281C.2 Says, Faur ye gaun, my dearest dear?
O faur ye gaun, my dow?
Theres naebody comes to my bedside,
And naebody wins to you.
281C.3 Your brother is a gallant square-wright,
A gallant square-wright is he;
Yell gar him make a lang ladder,
Wi thirty steps and three.
281C.4 And gar him big a deep, deep creel,
A deep creel and a string,
And yell come up to my bedside,
And come bonnily linken in.
281C.5 The auld gudemand and auld gudewife,
To bed they went, to sleep;
But wae mat worth the auld gudewife!
A wink she coudna get.
281c.6 I dreamd a dreary dream this night,
I wish it binna true,
That the rottens had come thro the wa,
And cutted the coverin blue.
281C.7 Then up it raise the auld gudeman,
To see gin it was true;
And hes gane to his daughter dear,
Says, What are ye doing, my dow?
281C.8 What are ye doing, my daughter dear?
What are ye doing, my dow?
The prayer books in my hand, father,
Praying for my auld minnie and you.
281C.9 The auld gudeman and auld gudewife,
To bed they went, to sleep;
But wae mat worth the auld gudewife!
But aye she wakend yet.
281c.10 I dreamd a dreary dream this night,
I wish it binna true,
That the cunning clerk and your ae daughter
Were aneath the coverin blue
281c.11 O rise yoursell, gudewife, he says,
The diel may had you fast!
Atween you and your ae daughter
I canno get ae nights rest.
281c.12 Up then raise the auld gudewife,
To see gin it was true,
And she feel arselins in the creel,
And up the string they drew.
281c.13 Win up, win up, gudeman, she says,
Win up and help me now!
For he that ye gae me to last night,
I think hes catchd me now.
281c.14 Gin Auld Nick he has catchd you now,
I wish he may had you fast;
As for you and your ae daughter,
I never get kindly rest.
281c.15 They howded her, and they showded her,
Till the auld wife gat a fa,
And three ribs o the auld wifes side
Gaed knip-knap ower in twa.
281d: The Keach I The Creel
281d.1 My father he locks the doors at nicht,
My mither the keys carries ben, ben;
Theres naebody dare gae out, she says,
And as few dare come in, in,
And as few dare come in.
281d.2 I will mak a lang ladder,
Wi fifty steps and three,
I will mak a lang ladder,
And lichtly come doun to thee.
281D.3 He has made a lang ladder,
Wi fifty steps and three,
He has made a lang ladder,
And lichtly come doun the lum.
281D.4 They had na kissd nor lang clappit,
As lovers do whan they meet,
Till the auld wife says to the auld man,
I hear somebody speak.
281d.5 I dreamed a dreem sin late yestreen,
And Im feard my dream be true;
I dreamd that the rottens cam thro the wa,
And cuttit the covering blue.
281D.6 Yell rise, yell rise, my auld gudeman,
And see gin this be true;
If yere wanting rising, rise yoursel,
For I wish the auld chiel ahd you.
281d.7 I dreamed a dream sin late yestreen,
And Im feard my dream be true;
I dreamd that the clerk and our ae dother
War rowed in the covering blue.
281D.8 Yell rise, yell rise, my auld gudeman,
And see gin this be true:
If yere wanting rising, rise yoursel,
For I wish the auld chiel had you.
281D.9 But up she raise, and but she gaes,
And she fell into the gin;
He gied the tow a clever tit,
That brought her out at the lum.
281d.10 Yell rise, yell rise, my auld gudeman,
Yell rise and come to me now,
For him that yeve gien me sae lang till,
I fear he has gotten me now.
281d.11 The grip that hes gotten, I wish he may haud,
And never let it gae,
For atween you and your ae dother
I rest neither nicht nor day.
281a.1 A Fair young may went up the street,
Some white-fish for to buy,
And a bonnie clerks faen in love wi her,
And hes followed her by and by, by,
And hes followed her by and by.
281a.2 O where live ye, my bonnie lass,
I pray thee tell to me;
For gin the nicht were ever sae mirk
I wad come and visit thee.
281a.3 O my father he aye locks the door,
My mither keeps the key;
And gin ye were ever sic a wily wight
Ye canna win in to me.
281A.4 the clerk he had ae true brother,
And a wily wight was he;
And he has made a lang ladder,
Was thirty steps and three.
281A.5 He has made a cleek but and a creel,
A creel but and a pin;
And hes away to the chimley-top,
And hes letten the bonnie clerk in.
281A.6 The auld wife, being not asleep,
Heard something that was said;
Ill lay my life, quo the silly auld wife,
Theres a man i our dochters bed.
281A.7 The auld man he gat owre the bed,
To see if the thing was true;
But shes taen the bonny clerk in her arms,
And coverd him owre wi blue.
281a.8 O where are ye gaun now, father? she says,
And where are ye gaun sae late?
Yeve disturbd me in my evening prayers,
And O but they were sweet!
281a.9 O ill betide ye, silly auld wife,
And an ill death may ye die!
She has the muckle buik in her arms,
And shes prayin for you and me.
281a.10 The auld wife being not asleep,
Then something mair was said;
Ill lay my life, quo the silly auld wife,
Theres a man i our dochters bed.
281a.11 The auld wife she got owre the bed,
To see if the thing was true;
But what the wrack took the auld wifes fit?
For into the creel she flew.
281a.12 The man that was at the chimley-top,
Finding the creel was fu,
He wrappit the rape round his left shouther,
And fast to him he drew.
281a.13 O help! O help! O hinny, now, help!
O help, O hinny, now!
For him that ye aye wished me to
Hes carryin me off just now.
281a.14 O if the foul thiefs gotten ye,
I wish he may keep his haud;
For a the lee lang winter nicht
Yell never lie in your bed.
281a.15 Hes towed her up, hes towed her down,
Hes towed her through an through;
O Gude assist! quo the silly auld wife,
For Im just departin now.
281a.16 Hes towed her up, hes towed her down,
Hes gien her a richt down-fa,
Till every rib i the auld wifes side
Playd nick-nack on the wa.
281a.17 O the blue, the bonnie, bonnie blue,
And I wish the blue may do weel!
And every auld wife thats sae jealous o her dochter,
May she get a good keach i the creel!
281b: The Keach I The Creel
281b.1 As bonnie may went up the street,
Some sweetmeats for to buy,
There was a young clerk followed after her,
And followed her by and by, by,
And followed her by and by.
281B.2 Its bonnie may, where do you stay?
Or where is t that you be?
Oh if the night be neer so dark,
Awat Ill come and visit thee.
281B.3 My father locks the door at een,
My mother keeps the key;
Gin ye were neer sic a rovin blade,
Ye canna win in to me.
281B.4 The young clerk has a young brither,
And a wily wag was he;
Hes made to him a long ladder,
Wi thirty steps and three.
281B.5 And hes put it to the chimney-top,
And the creel hes put on a pin,
And hes put it to the chimney-top,
And hes let the young clerk in.
281B.6 The auld wife she was standing by,
She heard a word was said;
I could lay my life, said the silly auld wife,
Theres a man in oor dochters bed.
281B.7 The auld man he cam doun the stairs
To see if it were true;
The young clerk was lying in bonnie mays arms,
And shes covered him oer wi blue.
281B.8 Where are you goin, dear father? she says,
Where are you going so late?
You stopped me of my evening prayers,
And oh, but they were sweet!
281B.9 The deil tak you, ye silly auld wife,
And an ill death may ye dee!
For your dochter was lyin wi the book in her arms,
And shes praying for you and me.
281b.10 The auld wife still standin no far by,
Still hearin a word, she said,
Ye may say as ye like, ye silly auld man,
Theres a man in oor dochters bed.
281b.11 I dinna ken whats taen the auld wifes fit,
But into the creel she flew;
The young clerk[s brither] being at the chimney-top,
He found the creel was fu.
281b.12 Hes thrown the rope out-owre his shouther,
And to him he did draw;
Hes drawn her up, hes drawn her doun,
Hes drawn her through and through.
281b.13 Till the auld wife she began to cry,
Im just departin noo!
But aye he drew her up and doun,
And drew her through and through.
281b.14 Hes drawn her up, hes let her doun,
Hes gien her evendoun fall,
Till every rib on the auld wifes side
Played nick-nack on the wall.
281b.15 Its O the blue, the bonnie, bonnie blue,
I wish the blue may do weel!
For every auld wife that is jealous o her dochter
May be rockit to the d l in a creel!
281c: The Keach I The Creel
281c.1 As I gaed down to Collistown,
Some white-fish for to buy, buy,
The cunning clerk he followed me,
And he followed me speedily, ly,
And he followed me speedily.
281C.2 Says, Faur ye gaun, my dearest dear?
O faur ye gaun, my dow?
Theres naebody comes to my bedside,
And naebody wins to you.
281C.3 Your brother is a gallant square-wright,
A gallant square-wright is he;
Yell gar him make a lang ladder,
Wi thirty steps and three.
281C.4 And gar him big a deep, deep creel,
A deep creel and a string,
And yell come up to my bedside,
And come bonnily linken in.
281C.5 The auld gudemand and auld gudewife,
To bed they went, to sleep;
But wae mat worth the auld gudewife!
A wink she coudna get.
281c.6 I dreamd a dreary dream this night,
I wish it binna true,
That the rottens had come thro the wa,
And cutted the coverin blue.
281C.7 Then up it raise the auld gudeman,
To see gin it was true;
And hes gane to his daughter dear,
Says, What are ye doing, my dow?
281C.8 What are ye doing, my daughter dear?
What are ye doing, my dow?
The prayer books in my hand, father,
Praying for my auld minnie and you.
281C.9 The auld gudeman and auld gudewife,
To bed they went, to sleep;
But wae mat worth the auld gudewife!
But aye she wakend yet.
281c.10 I dreamd a dreary dream this night,
I wish it binna true,
That the cunning clerk and your ae daughter
Were aneath the coverin blue
281c.11 O rise yoursell, gudewife, he says,
The diel may had you fast!
Atween you and your ae daughter
I canno get ae nights rest.
281c.12 Up then raise the auld gudewife,
To see gin it was true,
And she feel arselins in the creel,
And up the string they drew.
281c.13 Win up, win up, gudeman, she says,
Win up and help me now!
For he that ye gae me to last night,
I think hes catchd me now.
281c.14 Gin Auld Nick he has catchd you now,
I wish he may had you fast;
As for you and your ae daughter,
I never get kindly rest.
281c.15 They howded her, and they showded her,
Till the auld wife gat a fa,
And three ribs o the auld wifes side
Gaed knip-knap ower in twa.
281d: The Keach I The Creel
281d.1 My father he locks the doors at nicht,
My mither the keys carries ben, ben;
Theres naebody dare gae out, she says,
And as few dare come in, in,
And as few dare come in.
281d.2 I will mak a lang ladder,
Wi fifty steps and three,
I will mak a lang ladder,
And lichtly come doun to thee.
281D.3 He has made a lang ladder,
Wi fifty steps and three,
He has made a lang ladder,
And lichtly come doun the lum.
281D.4 They had na kissd nor lang clappit,
As lovers do whan they meet,
Till the auld wife says to the auld man,
I hear somebody speak.
281d.5 I dreamed a dreem sin late yestreen,
And Im feard my dream be true;
I dreamd that the rottens cam thro the wa,
And cuttit the covering blue.
281D.6 Yell rise, yell rise, my auld gudeman,
And see gin this be true;
If yere wanting rising, rise yoursel,
For I wish the auld chiel ahd you.
281d.7 I dreamed a dream sin late yestreen,
And Im feard my dream be true;
I dreamd that the clerk and our ae dother
War rowed in the covering blue.
281D.8 Yell rise, yell rise, my auld gudeman,
And see gin this be true:
If yere wanting rising, rise yoursel,
For I wish the auld chiel had you.
281D.9 But up she raise, and but she gaes,
And she fell into the gin;
He gied the tow a clever tit,
That brought her out at the lum.
281d.10 Yell rise, yell rise, my auld gudeman,
Yell rise and come to me now,
For him that yeve gien me sae lang till,
I fear he has gotten me now.
281d.11 The grip that hes gotten, I wish he may haud,
And never let it gae,
For atween you and your ae dother
I rest neither nicht nor day.
