THE BEGGAR LADDIE

'Twas in the month o' pleasant June
When gentle ladies walk their lane,
When woods and valleys a' grow green
And the sun it shone sae clearly.

Doon in yon grove I spied a swain
A shepherd('s) sheep-club in his hand,
He was driving yowes oot owre the knowes
And he was a weel-faur'd laddie.

"Come tell tae me what is yer trade
Or by what airt ye win yer breid,
Or by what airt ye win yer breid
When herding ye give owre?"

Makin' spindles is ma trade
And finding sticks in time o' need,
For I'm a beggar tae ma trade
So lassie could ye We me?"

I could lo'e ye as manifold
As Rachel loved Jacob of old,
As Jesse lo'ed his cups o' gold,
Ma laddie if ye'll believe me."

And when they cam' tae yonder toon
They bocht a loaf and they both sat doon,
They bocht a loaf and both sat doon
And the lassie ate wi' her laddie.

But the lassie's courage began to fail,
Her rosy cheeks grew wan an' pale
And the tears came trinklin' doon like hail
Or a heavy shooer in summer.

"Oh gin I were on yon high hill
Whaur ma faither's flocks do feed their fill,
I wad sit me doon and greet a while
For the followin' o' ma laddie."

And when they came tae yon marble gate
Sae boldly as he knocked there at;
He rappit lood and he rappit late
An he rappit there sae rudely.

Then fower an' twenty gentlemen
Cam oot tae welcome the beggar hame,
And just as mony ladies gay
Tae welcome the young knicht's lady.

His brother John stood next the wa'
And he laughed till he was like tae fa'
"Oh brother I wish'd we had beggit a'
For sic a bonnie lassie."

"Yestreen I was the beggar's bride
This nicht I lie doon by his side
I've come to gweed by my misguide
For noo I'm the young knocht's lady.

From The Folk Music Revival in Scotland, Munro

Child #280
@Scottish @beggar @marriage @trick
filename[ BEGGRLAD
TUNE FILE: BEGGRLAD
CLICK TO PLAY
RG
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