The Gaberlunzieman

Oh the pawky auld carle cam o'er the lea

Wi' mony guid-e'ens and guid-days tae me

Sayin', "Guid wife for your charity

Would you lodge a leal poor man?"

Laddie wi my tow-ro-ae

Well the nicht being cauld, the carle being wat

It's doon ayant the ingle he sat

My dochters shouthers he began tae clap

And cadgily ranted and sang

Laddie wi' my tow-ro-ae

Between the twa was made a plot

They'd rise a wee afore the cock

And wilily they shot the lock

And fast to the bent they are gane

Laddie wi' my tow-ro-ae

The aul wife gaed whaur the beggar lay

The strae was cauld, he was away

She clappit her hands cryin

"Waladay!

For some of our gear will be gane"

Laddie wi my tow-ro-ae

The servant gaed whaur the dochtor lay

Th sheets were cauld, she was away

And fast to the guid wife she gan say

"Shes awa wi the Gaberlunzieman"

Laddie wi' my tow-ro-ae

"O fy gar ride and fy gar rin

And haste ye find these traitors again!

For she's be burnt and he's be slain

The wearyful beggarman"

Laddie wi' my tow-ro-ae

Meanwhile farhind oot o'er the lea

Fu-snug in a glen where nane could see

The twa wi' kindly sport and glee

Would lo'e the hale day lang

Laddie wi' my tow-ro-ae

Oh the lady cam riding o'er the lea,

efter mony years her guidwife tae see

She had wedded a lord, nae begger he,

That had gaed as the beggarman

Laddie wi' my tow-ro-ae

Well the lady came riding o'er the strand

Wi' fower and twenty at her command

She was the brawest in the land

And she went wi' the beggarman

Laddie wi' my tow-ro-ae