Hoolie, the Bed'll Fa!
Hoolie, the bed'll fa!
Wha'll fa wi't?
Twa een, twa hands,
And twa bonnie feet.
Hoolie, the bed'll no fa!
Wha'll no fa wi't?
Wee Robin Reidbreist,
Soond asleep.
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SC (1948), 91 (no. 139), from Perth.
The above may be an extension of a common phrase. In 1659
John Douglas and eight women were arraigned as witches, and
confessed to "merry meetings with Satan, enlivened with music
and dancing. Douglas was the pyper, and the two favourite
airs of his majesty were `Kilt thy coat, Maggie, and come thy
way with me', and `Hulie the bed will fa'." [Spottiswoode
Miscellany (Edin. 1844-5), II.68; Thomas Davidson, Rowan Tree
and Red Thread (1949), 19.] Cf. also Allan Cunningham, Burns
II.39, quoting a "very old" song [in connection with Burns'
version of "The tailor fell through the bed", as in SMM III
(221, no. 212)]; st. 2 runs:
The beddie was tied frae head to feet,
Wi' ropes ' hay that were wondrous sweet,
And by came the calfie and ate them awa,--
Deal hoolie, my laddie, the beddie will fa'.
MS
APR99
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!