Digital Tradition Mirror

O, that I Had Never Married

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

O, that I Had Never Married

O, that I had ne'er been married,
I wad never had nae care;
Now l've gotten wife an' weans,
An' they cry 'crowdie' evermair.

cho: Aince crowdie, twice crowdie,
     Three times crowdie in a day;
     Gin ye 'crowdie' onie mair,
     Ye'll crowdie a' my meal away,

Waefu' want and hunger fley me,
Glow'rin by the hallan-en':
Sair I fecht them at the door,
But ay l'm eerie they come ben.

From Folk Songs and Ballads of Scotland, MacColl
First verse, trad.; second by Robert Burns.
tune: Three Crowdys a Day: trad., published 1694

glossary:
     crowdie: A kind of gruel or oatmeal
     hallan-en': end of the porch
     ben: in
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!