Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
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 Lawrence "Larry" Older of Middle Grove, New York at a concert in New York in 1978.
Note by Kevin W.:
I was very surprised when I heard Larry sing this song. I expected the "I married a wife in the month of june" nonsense lyrics, but instead this is indeed a traditional American version of "The Wee Cooper o' Fife" (Child 277).
Song transcription:
There was an old man and he lived in Fife,
Hey Billy Barlow an' now now now,
He took himself a lazy young wife.
With a hey Billy Barlow an' Johnny may goodle,
Sing raddle, sing rossle, now now.
She wouldn't cook and she wouldn't sow,
One of the gold ... strawberry row.
The old man went out to his sheep pen,
He down with the wether and off with the skin.
He stretched the hide all over her back,
The way he made the hickory crack.
I'll tell my father and all my kin,
How you tanned your mutton skin.
You can tell your father and your brothers, too,
What a thumping I gave you.
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 Lawrence "Larry" Older of Middle Grove, New York at a concert in New York in 1978.
Note by Kevin W.:
I was very surprised when I heard Larry sing this song. I expected the "I married a wife in the month of june" nonsense lyrics, but instead this is indeed a traditional American version of "The Wee Cooper o' Fife" (Child 277).
Song transcription:
There was an old man and he lived in Fife,
Hey Billy Barlow an' now now now,
He took himself a lazy young wife.
With a hey Billy Barlow an' Johnny may goodle,
Sing raddle, sing rossle, now now.
She wouldn't cook and she wouldn't sow,
One of the gold ... strawberry row.
The old man went out to his sheep pen,
He down with the wether and off with the skin.
He stretched the hide all over her back,
The way he made the hickory crack.
I'll tell my father and all my kin,
How you tanned your mutton skin.
You can tell your father and your brothers, too,
What a thumping I gave you.
