Origins: The Wee Cooper of Fife

Subject: Looking for title and lyrics
From: GUEST,kwanlu
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 04:11 AM

I am trying to track down an English folk song I used to hear when I was a kid, back in the Eisenhower administration. It was on a Richard Dyer Bennet recording (belonging to my Mom). The song detailed the multitudes of domestic griefs acquired by a man who married a "noble wife". All I can recall are a few bits and pieces: "She wouldn't a-bake and she wouldn't a-spin, rightful, dightful, diddle-dee-dee (or some such interjection), for fear of shamin' her noble kin". Also, the final lines: "There's bread and cheese up on the shelf, rightful, dightful, whatever, and if you want anymore you can sing it yourself." Anybody???

Subject: RE: Looking for title and lyrics
From: Rozza
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 04:49 AM

This sounds like "The Wee Cooper of Fife", in Ewan MacColl's "Personal Choice", Hargail Music Press NY 1962, p.55

Subject: RE: Looking for title and lyrics
From: IanC
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 05:28 AM

That'd be here in DT.

:-)
Ian

---

WEE COOPER OF FIFE (DT Lyrics)

There was a wee cooper who lived in fife
Nickety, nockety, noo, noo, noo
And he has gotten a gentle wife
Hey Willie Wallacky, hey John Dougall
Alane quo' rushety, roo, roo, roo

She wouldna bake, she wouldna brew
Nickety, nockety, noo, noo, noo
For spoiling o' her comely hue
Hey Willie Wallacky, hey John Dougall
Alane quo' rushety, roo, roo, roo

Ahe wouldna wash, she wouldna wring,
Nickety, nockety, noo, noo, noo
For spoiling o' her gowden ring
Hey Willie Wallacky, hey John Dougall
Alane quo' rushety, roo, roo, roo

She wouldna caird, she wouldna spin
Nickety, nockety, noo, noo, noo
For shaming of her gentle kin
Hey Willie Wallacky, hey John Dougall
Alane quo' rushety, roo, roo, roo

The cooper has gone to his woo' pack
Nickety, nockety, noo, noo, noo
And laid a sheepskin on his wife's back
Hey Willie Wallacky, hey John Dougall
Alane quo' rushety, roo, roo, roo

It's I'll no lether ye for your kin
Nickety, nockety, noo, noo, noo
But I will lether my own sheepskin
Hey Willie Wallacky, hey John Dougall
Alane quo' rushety, roo, roo, roo

Oh, I will bake and I will brew
Nickety, nockety, noo, noo, noo
And think nae mair o' my comely hue
Hey Willie Wallacky, hey John Dougall
Alane quo' rushety, roo, roo, roo

Oh, I will wash and I will wring
Nickety, nockety, noo, noo, noo
And think nae mair o' my gowden ring
Hey Willie Wallacky, hey John Dougall
Alane quo' rushety, roo, roo, roo

I will caird and I will spin
Nickety, nockety, noo, noo, noo
And think nae mair o' my gentle kin
Hey Willie Wallacky, Hey John Dougall
Alane quo' rushety, roo, roo, roo

Noo you that have gotten a gentle wife
Nickety, nockety, noo, noo, noo
Just send ye for the wee cooper of Fife [1]
Hey Willie Wallacky, hey John Dougall
Alane quo rushety, roo, roo, roo


[1] or,[ Just mind ye o' the wee cooper o' Fife] MS


Child #277
Recorded by Ives, Hedy West- Old Times, McCurdy- Best Of, Ian Cambell
@Scottish @marriage
filename[ COOPFIFE
TUNE FILE: COOPFIFE
CLICK TO PLAY
RG, MS

Popup Midi Player

Subject: RE: Looking for title and lyrics
From: GUEST,kwanlu
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 01:19 AM

Thanks! I'll look up MacColl's. The online version is quite close to what I remember: "mine" must just be another variant. Again, thanks, y'all! :)