@MGM-Lion - Another woman who used regularly to sing the Old Maid In A Garrett version was Isabel Sutherland, the Scottish resident in a folk club run in the late 1950s by Bruce Dunnett...

I always enjoyed Isobel Sutherland singing this. Her version was slightly different and she had a wonderful voice. I've tried to represent some of her Scots words.

AULD MAID IN THE GARRET
Isabel Sutherland

Now I've often heard it said frae my faither and my mother
That to gang to a wedding is the makings of another
Gin that be true then I’ll gang withoot a biddin’
Kind providence, ye’ll ask me to a weddin’.
And it’s oh dear me what will I do if I die an auld maid in a garret.

Oh my young sister Jean she's no’ handsome or good lookin’
Only sixteen and a fella she is courtin’
I am forty four and I havenae got a man
I dinna ken if I will or if I can.

And its oh dear me what will I do if I die an auld maid in a garret.

Oh come tinkler, come tailor, come soldier or come sailor
Come ony man at all that’ll tak me to my faither
Come rich man, come poor man, come wise man or come witty
Come ony man at all that’ll marry me for pity.

And its oh dear me what will I do if I die an auld maid in a garret.

Oh, for I can knit and I can sew I can mak’ the hoose right tidy
Rise up in the mornin’ and mak the breakfast ready
One thing in this wide world would make me half as cheery
Is a dear auld man to call me his wee deary.

And its oh dear me what will I do if I die an auld maid in a garret.

Oh, for I'll awa’ hame for there’s nobody heedin’
Naebody heeding to poor auld Annie’s pleading
I'm awa’ hame to ma wee garret
If I canna get a man then I'll surely get a parrot.

And its oh dear me what will I do if I die an auld maid in a garret -
Wi’ a parrot!

If Robin Hall was there, he would always tease Isabel by singing the tag line as "Wi' a carrot!"