The Wee Cooper o' Fife- Gordon (PA) 1943 Bayard
From: Pennsylvania Songs and Legends
Notes: This humorous ballad, known to specialists as The Wife Wrapt Wether's skin, is of comparatively recent importation, having been brought to this country in the latter nineteenth century by a Scottish coal miner. This scottish version difiers greatly from the long-acclimated and widely known Engrish form that Pennsylvania singers also remember.
The Wee Cooper o' Fife- Sung by J. D. Gordon and Mrs. Jennie Craven in Fayette County, 1943. Recorded by Samuel P. Bayard.
1. There was a wee cooper, he leeved in Fife,
Nickety, nackety, noo, noo, noo,
And oh he married a canty [1] wee wife.
Hi wully wagglety, ho, John Dougal,
A rick-ma rackety, noo, noo, noo.
2. She naither could bake and she naither could brew,
Nickety, nackety, noo, noo, noo,
For gaun aboot wi' her gentil crew.
Hi wully wagglety, ho, John Dougal,
A rick'ma rackety, noo, noo, noo.
3. She naither could wash and she naither could spin,
For gaun aboot wi' her gentil kin.
4. I'll awa' hame to my own sheepspark;
I'll fetch hame a sheepskin, and I'll tie't on her back.
5. I leathered her but and I leathered her ben-
Can I no' leather my ain sheepskin?
6. Noo she can bake and noo she can brew;
She disne fash wi' her gentil crew.
7. Noo she can wash and noo she can spin,
And she disne fash wi' her gentil kin.
8. Come a' ye young men that's got a bad wife,
Noo just ye try the cooper o' Fife!
1. genty for gentiel