Malcolm,

In his notes to 'Wanton Muse' Argo LP ZDA 85, MacColl said his source for 'The Gairdener Chylde' was from his mother, with verses collated from Greig's 'Last Leaves'. He noted also that the song's first appearance in print wa 'in a rather corrupt form in an Edinburgh chapbook dated 1776. I think the text in the DT differs from MacColl's text in enough places to warrant posting his text. It also has an additional verse.


THE GAIRDENER CHYLDE

Proud Maisrie stands at her faither's door
As straucht's a willow wand
And syne there cam' a gairdener chylde
Wi' a red rose in his hand, his hand
Wi' a red rose in his hand

Oh ye sall hae my rose quo' he
Gin ye'll gie your floo'er to me
And amang the floo'ers o' your faither's yaird
I'll mak' a goon for thee, for thee
I'll mak' a goon for thee

The lily white shall be your smock
Becomes your body neist
And the marigowd shall be your stays
Wi' a red rose at your breist, your breist
Wi' a red rose at your breist

Your goon shall be the smelling thyme
And your petticoat camowine
And your apron o' the soladene
So kiss sweetheart and join, and join
So kiss sweetheart and join

Your gloves shall be the clover floo'er
That springs in yonder wan
And I'll sew them wi' the blue blevets
That graws amang the lawn, the lawn
That graws amang the lawn

Your feet I'll shoe wi' yon red rue
That graws in the gairden fine
And I'll line them wi' the tapetan
So join your love wi' mine, wi' mine
So join your love wi' mine

Since ye hae made a goon for me
Amang the simmer floo'ers
Sae I will make a suit for thee
Amang the winter shoo'ers, the shoo'ers
Amang the winter shoo'ers

The milk-white snaw shall be your sark
And lie your body neist
And the mirk-black rain shall be your coat
Wi' a wind-gale at your breist, your breist
Wi' a wind-gale at your breist

The horse that ye shall ride upon
Shall be the winter snell
And I'll bridle him wi' some Nor'land blasts
And some sharp shoo'ers o' hail, o' hail
And some sharp shoo'ers o' hail

The bonnet that's be upon your heid
Shall be the southren grey
And every time that ye pass by
I'll wish ye were away, away
I'll wish ye were away

--Stewie.