When I Was Single (two versions)
a. Peggy MacGillivray:
When I was single, I used a powder puff,
Now I am merriet, I cannae get the stuff.
Oh, it's a life, a weary, weary life,
It's better to be single than to be a merriet wife.
One shouts, "Mammy, gie me a piece and jam."
The other shouts, "Daddy, put me in the pram."
Oh, it's a life, a weary, weary life,
It's better to be single than to be a merriet wife.
One shouts, "Mammy, put me to ma bed."
The other shouts, "Daddy, scratch ma wooden leg."
Oh, it's a life, a weary, weary life,
It's better to be single than to be a merriet wife.
b. Norton Park Schoolchildren:
When I was single, I used a powder puff,
Now that I'm married, ah cannie get the stuff.
Oh, it's a life, a weary weary life.
It's better to be single than to be a married wife.
One shouts, "Mammy, give me a piece and jam."
The other shouts, "Daddy, put me in ma pram."
Oh, it's a life, a weary weary life.
It's better to be single than to be a married wife.
One shouts, "Mammy, put me to ma bed."
The other shouts, "Daddy, scratch ma wooden leg."
Oh, it's a life, a weary weary life.
It's better to be single than to be a married wife.
This song became popular among adult Scottish folksingers in 1960s. This version omits a verse used in the film The Singing Street, "When I was single I used to go and dance, / Now I am married I canny get the chance." Adult folksingers preferred "When I was single I used to comb my hair, / Now I'm married I huvny the time tae spare." The march-tempo tune sounds like a strain from a quadrille.
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Various Artists
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Singing in the Streets: Scottish Children's Songs
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- The Night Was Dark Time: 0:23
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- As I Went Down To Windsor Time: 0:32
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- The Wind, The Wind Time: 1:59
- Poor Mary Sat A-Weeping Time: 0:59
- Here's A Poor Widow Time: 0:17
- Little Sally Walker Time: 0:28
- On The Mountain Time: 0:17
- All The Boys In London Time: 0:34
- The Big Ship Sails Time: 0:23
- In And Out The Windows Time: 1:12
- Up Against The Wall Time: 0:42
- I Paula Tay Paula Taska / Interview Time: 0:41
- Here Comes A Bluebird Time: 0:32
- My Father Bought The Little Coat Time: 0:15
- A Tisket A Tasket Time: 0:30
- In and Out The Dusty Bluebells Time: 0:31
- He's A Navvy Time: 1:24
- Mother, Mother, I Am Ill Time: 0:28
- PK Penny Packet / Mrs Mopp / Chicka Tony Time: 0:25
- One Two Three Alairy Time: 0:22
- Eevy Ivy Over / Interview Time: 0:34
- All The Way To London Town / Interview Time: 1:13
- Queen Elizabeth Lost Her Shoe Time: 0:23
- It Has To Come Out Quite Unconsciously Time: 0:38
- Down In The Valley Time: 0:49
- There's Usually An Argument Which One's Which Time: 1:14
- Jelly On The Plate Time: 0:36
- Cowboy Joe / Ippetty Soopitty Time: 0:13
- My Mother / My Little House Time: 0:51
- Eetle Ottle, Black Bottle Time: 0:17
- Flip Flop Time: 0:36
- One Two Three Four Five Time: 0:20
- My Name Is Sweet Jenny Time: 0:51
- I'm A Little Orphan Girl Time: 0:58
- Broken Hearted, I Wander Time: 0:58
- The Bonny Sailor Boy / Interview Time: 1:21
- When I Was Single Time: 1:10
- An Angel Said To Me Time: 0:15
- All That Shivers / Canaa's Shore / The Burning Deck Time: 0:45
- The World Must Be Coming To An End Time: 1:02
- Robert Burns Time: 0:12
- Put Him In The Bathtub Time: 0:28
- I'm Goin' Awa In The Train Time: 0:19
- Paddy Knight Time: 0:21
- When I Was Young Time: 0:31
- Chairlie / The Cotton Spinners / The 42nd Time: 2:02
- Goose, Ducks, Stones, Fires And Rain Time: 1:08
- Aunty Mary Had A Canary / Woe O'Hara Time: 0:46
- The Donkey / The Croft / The Policeman Time: 0:54
- Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be? Time: 0:11
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