Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago

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Dandoo / The Wee Cooper o' Fife / The Scolding Wife / Gentle Fair Jenny / Jennifer Gentle / As the Dew Flies over the Green Vallee / Robin-a-Thrush / Rissolty Rossolty / Hobblety Bobblety / Nickety Nackety / The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin (Child No. 277) - Sung by Mrs Elsie Hamilton of Broxburn, Uphall, West Lothian, Scotland. She learned the song from her mother. Recorded by Dr. Emily Lyle on January 20, 1977.

Song transcription:

There was a wee cooper who lived in Fife,
Nickity, nackity, noo, noo, noo
And he has gotten a gentle wife.
Hey Willie Wallacky, how John Dougall,
Alane, quo Rushety, roue, roue, roue.

She wadna bake, nor she wadna brew,
For the spoiling o her comely hue.

She wadna card, nor she wadna spin,
For the shaming o her gentle kin.

She wadna wash, nor she wadna wring,
For the spoiling o her gouden ring.

The cooper's awa to his woo-pack
And has laid a sheep-skin on his wife's back.

'It's I'll no thrash ye, for your proud kin,
But I will thrash my ain sheep-skin.'

'Of, I will bake, and I will brew,
And never mair think on my comely hue.

'Oh, I will card, and I will spin,
And never mair think on my gentle kin.

'Oh, I will wash, and I will wring,
And never mair think on my gouden ring.'

A' ye wha hae gotten a gentle wife
Send ye for the wee cooper o Fife.