It was soon republished with a tune, a new title (the one it has been known by ever since), slightly altered lyrics, and no attribution:

From The British Musical Miscellany; Being a Collection of Scotch, English, & Irish Songs, (Edinburgh: Thomas Turnbull, 1805), p. 22:


A’ BODY’S LIKE TO BE MARRIED BUT ME.

As Jenny sat down wi’ her wheel by the fire,
She thought of the time that was fast fleein’ by’er,
She said to hersel’, wi’ a heavy hiegh-hee,
O, a’ body’s like to be married but me!

My youthfu’ companions are a’ worn awa,
And though I’ve had wooers mysel’, ane or twa,
Yet a lad to my mind I ne’er yet could see:
O, a’ body’s like to be married but me!

There’s Lowrie the Lawyer, wad ha’e me fu’ fain,
Who has baith a house and a yard o’ his ain;
But before I’d gang to it, I rather would die;
A wee stumpin’ body! he’ll never get me!

There’s Dickie, my cousin, frae Lun’on came down,
Wi’ fine yellow buckskins that dazzled the town,
But poor deevil, he got ne’er a blink o’ my e’e:
O, a’ body’s like to be married but me!

But I saw a lad by yon saughy burn side,
Wha weel wad deserve ony Queen for his bride;
Gin I had my will soon his ain I would be:
O, a’ body’s like to be married but me.

I gied him a look, as a kind lassie shou’d,
My friends if they kend it would surely rin wud,
For tho’ bonny and good, he’s no worth a babee:
O, a’ body’s like to be married but me!

’Tis hard to tak shelter behint a leigh dyke,
’Tis hard to tak ane we never can like,
’Tis hard for to leave ane we fain would be wi’;
Yet ’tis harder that a’ shou’d be married but me!