The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #35677   Message #4221785
Posted By: Lighter
29-Apr-25 - 11:50 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: A Gob is a Slob, Wherever He May Be
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Gob is a Slob, Wherever He May Be
Hans Hecht, ed. Songs from David Herd’s Manuscripts (1904), pp. 136-137 [Herd died in 1810]:

As I gaed to the well at e'en,
As ony honest auld woman will do,
The carl then he follow't me,
As auld carles will do.

            [Chorus:]
He woo'd me and loo'd me,
A wally, how he woo'd me!
But yet I winna tell to you.
How the carl woo'd me.

As I sat at my wheel at e'en,
As ony honest auld woman shou'd do.
The carl he came in to me,
As auld carles will do.

          [Chorus:]
He woo'd me and loo'd me &c.

As I gaed to my bed at e'en.
As ony other honest auld woman wou'd do,
The carl then he came to me.
As auld carles will do.

          [Chorus:]
He woo'd me and loo'd me &c


carl = fellow
"A wally" can mean either "Alas!" or "Goodness!"