THE WEE COOPER O FIFE
Traditional

There was a wee Cooper wha lived in Fife
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
And he had gotten a gentle wife,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

She wadna bake, nor she wadna brew,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
For the spoiling o' her comely hue,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

She wadna card, nor she wadna spin,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
For the shamin' o' her gentle kin,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

She wadna wash, nor she wadna wring,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
For the spoiling o' her gowden ring,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

The Cooper has gane to his woo' pack,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
And he's laid a sheep's skin on his wife's back,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

"It's I'll no thrash ye for your gentle kin",
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
"But I will skelp my ain sheep's skin",
Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

"Oh I will bake and I will brew",
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
"And nae mair think o' my comely hue",
Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

"Oh I will card, and I will spin",
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
"And nae mair think o' my gentle kin",
Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

"Oh I will wash, and I will wring",
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
"And nae mair think o' my gowden ring",
Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

A' ye wha ha'e gotten a gentle wife,
Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
Send ye for the wee Cooper o' Fife,
Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

Footnote: A song I first learnt in primary school in Aberdeenshire, not realising that in a year or two I would find myself 'in exile' in the Kingdom of Fife. The Wee Cooper wouldn't get away with wife-beating nowadays! This boisterous song appeared regularly in 'The Scottish Student's Song Book'.