And what do you think I should do good folks,
And what do you think I should try,
If mither should die there'd be nobody living,
To mind the fowls and the kye.

My mmemory of this was prompted by the improbable love songs thread. Maybe Suzanne has the lyrics.

Regards, John

IF MOTHER SHOULD DIE

I am a young man and I live wi' my mother
A braw woman yet for her age
But just at the mentioning o' takin' a wife
She's sure to fly into a rage

Chorus:

And what do you think I should do good folks
And what do you think I should try
If mother should die there's naebody living
To mind the fowls and the kye

Now gang awa, Ian, now gang tae the weddin'
Ye ken you're tae be the best man
And Betty McAffy she's sure tae be there
So speak up to her there like a man

So I went to the bridal and Betty was there
And in truth her bosoms lookit large
But her face a disgrace, camouflaged wi' lace
That would shame the backside of a barge

To please me old mother and a wee bit for me
A proposal I thought I might try
So in talk I let drop did she ever hear tell
That we had twa dozen o' kye

And what do you think I should do good folk
For Betty turned round wi' a cry
If it came to a choice 'tween you and your mither
I'll send for to marry the kye

WHAT DO YE THINK O' ME NOO, KIND SIRS?

I am a young man, I live wi' my mither,
A braw decent kimmer, I trow;
But aye when I speak aboot takin' a wife,
She aye gets up in a lowe.

[cho.] Sae what do ye think o' me noo, kind sirs;
And what do ye think I shud try?
Gin mither was deein', there's naebody livin'
To mind the hoose and the kye.

There's red-headed Jenny, lives doon by our side,
At shearin' she aye dings them a',
But her very face mither canna abide,
And her a wild hizzie does ca'.

[cho.]

Yestreen my mither she pouther'd my wig
As white as the new-driven snaw;
She took an auld mutch and made me a gravat,
Stuck in a big breastpin and a'.

[cho.]

"Noo gang awa', Sandy, ye're gaun to the waddin',
Ye ken ye're to be the best man,
And Betty McHaffie's to be the best maid,
Mak' up to her noo like a man."

[cho.]

I gaed to the waddin', and Betty was there;
And losh, but she was buskit braw,
She had ribbons and lace a' deck'd round her face,
And necklaces twa or three raw.

[cho.]

To please my auld mither, by makin' up till her,
At aince I thocht I might try;
So I speir'd at Betty if ever she heard
That we had twa dizzen o' kye.

[last cho.:]
Sae what do ye think o' me noo, kind sirs;
And what do ye think I shud try?
Wi' a toss o' her head, she answered, "Indeed!
Wha cares for you or your kye?"

If anyone has the dots and scan them as a .bmp I'll post the tune

Regards, John

johninbrisbane@hotbot.com

Wolfgang

Wolfgang