Tam Booey

Come be with me, Tam Booey, Tam Booey
Come be with me, my own dear joy
Come be with me Tam Booey, Tam Booey
For such an old wanton dear widow am I


Spoken: What you buy me, you old whore?

On twenty broad shilling, Tam Booey, Tam Booey
On twenty broad shilling, my own dear joy
On twenty broad shilling, Tam Booey, Tam Booey
For such an old wanton dear widow am I


Spoken: What will you feed me, you old whore?

On porridge and meal, Tam Booey, Tam Booey
On porridge and meal, my own dear joy
On porridge and meal, Tam Booey, Tam Booey
For such an old wanton dear widow am I


Spoken: Where will I sleep, you old whore?

Ye'll sleep with the bairns, Tam Booey, Tam Booey
Ye'll sleep with the bairns, my own dear joy
Ye'll sleep with the bairns, Tam Booey, Tam Booey
For such an old wanton dear widow am I


Spoken: They'll pee in the [. . . . . . . . . .], you old whore.

Then come sleep with me, Tam Booey, Tam Booey
Come sleep with me, my own dear joy
Come sleep with me, Tam Booey, Tam Booey
For such an old wanton dear widow am I


Spoken: I have got something that will fix you, [<== ??] you old whore.

[ . . . . . . . . . ], Tam Booey, Tam Booey
[ . . . . . . . . . ], my own dear joy
[ . . . . . . . . . ], Tam Booey, Tam Booey
For such an old wanton dear widow am I

Transcribed from the singing of Murray Shoolbraid (1931 - 2020). Recoded August 31, 2004. Lacuna is
unintelligible words. The poor audio and the Scottish dialect makes full transcription beyond me.


Download here: https://archive.org/download/jack_horntip_collection_field_recordings/1176%20Tam%20Booie.mp3


According to my notes, this is also titled "The Wanton Widow" (Roud 366).