Digital Tradition Mirror

Wee Cooper of Fife

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Wee Cooper of Fife

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
RG, MS

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!