I've been singing this song for a very long time now. I got it originally from a recording by Ewan MacColl and Isla Cameron. Later mixed in verses from Hall-MacGregor, and came out with something similar, but not quite the same as any of the verses above. You may repeat the first line and add the whack fol the diddle aye do yourselves.

Oh Sally my dear, but I wish I could woo you...
Then try if you can, but don't let it undo you, sing...

Oh Sally my dear, but your mouth i could kiss it...
Then try if you can love but try not to miss it, sing...

Oh Sally my dear, but I wish I could bed you...
Then try if you can, but don't say I misled you, sing...

If lassies they ran like the hares on the mountain...
The all the young lads they would soon ride a huntin'. sing...

If lassies they sang like the blackbirds or thrushes...
The all the young lads would go beat in the bushes, sing...

If lassies they bloomed like the laurel in Springtime...
The all the young lads they would soon go and pluck them, sing...

If lassies they swam like the salmon so lively...
The devil a man would eat meat on a Friday, sing...


MacColl also stated this to be a fragmentary version of the "Twa Magicians."

Enjoy -- Tom