The Beggar Man

A beggar man came o'er yon lea
With many good e'ens and good days to me
Saying Good-wife for your charity
Will you lodge a beggar man?

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

The night was cold, the carl was wet
And down ayont the ingle he sat
The daughter's shoulders he 'gan to clap[clap:  caress]
And cadgily ranted and sang.

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

And O, quoth he, if you were as black
As e'er the crown of my daddy's hat
Tis I would lay thee on my back
And away with me thou should gang.

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

And O, quoth she, if I were as white
As e'er the snow lay on the dyke
I'd clothe me braw and ladylike
And away with thee I'd gang.

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

O lassie, lassie, you're far too young
And you haven't the cant of the begging tongue
You haven't the cant of the begging tongue
And with me you cannot gang.

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

I'll bow my back and crook my knee
And draw a black clout on my eye
And for a beggar they'll take me
And we shall be merry and sing.

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

Between the two they made a plot
To rise an hour before the cock
And wilily they slipped the lock
And through the fields they ran.

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

Up in the morn the old wife rose
And leisurely put on her clothes
Then to the servant's bed she goes
To speer for the silly poor man.  [speer:  inquire]

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

She went to the bed where the beggar lay
The straw was cold and he was away
She clapped her hands crying Welladay
For some of our gear'll be gone.

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

Some ran to the coffers and some to the kists [kists: chests]
But nought was stolen that could be missed
She danced her lane, cried Praise be blessed
I've lodged an honest man.

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

Since nothing's away that we can learn
The kye are to milk and the milk's to churn
Go but the house, lass, and waken the bairn [but: in the kitchen]
And bid her come quickly ben.   [ben: in the parlour]

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

The servant went where the daughter lay
The sheets were cold and she was away
And fast to the good wife she did say
She's away with the beggar man.

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

Some rode on horse, some ran on foot
The wife was wood and out of her wit [wood: mad]
She could not gang nor yet could she sit
And aye she cursed and she banned.   [banned: swore]

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

When years had passed some two or three
The same old beggar came o'er the lea
Says, Good-wife for your charity
Will you lodge a beggar man?

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

A beggar I'll ne'er lodge again
For I never had a daughter but ane
And away with a beggar she has gane
And I cannot tell where nor when.

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray

O yonder she's coming o'er yon lea
With many a fine tale to tell to thee
And she's got a baby on her knee
And another in her wame.[wame:  womb]

Chorus:
 Lassie to my tow roo ray