PARTANS IN HIS CREEL
(Allie Windwick)

Oh I lay in bed ower lang this morning, Heedless o' me mither's scorning
Turned and twisted a' last night and never closed an e'e;
While ootside a million stars were winking, Sleep it wadna come for thinking
O' the three sma' loving words that Willie said tae me.
Willie's tall and Willie's bonnie; Willie hasna muckle money -
No that siller matters when I ken I lo'e him weel.
Still, I think I'd better tarry: Bide a wee afore I marry -
No' till Willie catches mair than partans in his creel.

For me Mither ca's me young and silly - Far too young tae marry Willie;
Seventeen comes Christmas day tae Willie's twenty three;
And for aa' he's ever saved or striven wadna' gae the cat a living -
Aa' the wark that Willie does is runnin' efter me!
Willie's slow an' Willie's lazy; Willie taks things ower aisy:
Faither says he's naithing but a trowie ne'er-dae-weel!
So I think I'd better tarry; Bide a wee afore I marry -
No' till Willie catches mair than partans in his creel!

There's a peedie croft amang the heather, Whar he says we'll bide taegether;
While he'll mak a livin' wae his boatie on the sea;
There's a wee bit hoose his Faither biggit, Stootly thatched and snugly riggit,
Waitin' tae be taken ower by Willie an' by me!
Willie stands aroond an' whistles; Willie's fields are fu' o' thistles
Thistles never brought a body any milk an' meal;
Na! I think I'd better tarry; Bide a wee afore I marry -
No' till Willie's catchin' mair than partans in his creel.


partans - edible brown crabs
peedie is Orkney dialect for small or wee (from Norwegian)
trowie is a person who is not well


From Folkways Records No. FW 8470
Music from the Orkney Islands
http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW08470.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9jUI3PtkYk