Digital Tradition Mirror

When I Was Noo But Sweet Sixteen

(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

When I Was Noo But Sweet Sixteen

When I was noo but sweet sixteen,
In beauty just a bloomin', O
O little, little did I think
At nineteen I'd be greetin', O.


cho:     For the plooman lads are gay weel lads
         They're false and they're deceiving, O
         They'll gang awa', they'll sail awa'
         And leave their lasses greetin', O

If I'd a kent what I do ken
And done my mother's biddin', O
I would not be here at your fireside
Cryin' "Hishie ba, ma bairnie, O"

O, hishie ba, for I'm your ma,
But the Lord knows where's your daddy, O
But I'll take good care, and I'll be aware
O' the young men in the gloaming, O

When I was noo but sweet sixteen,
In beauty just a bloomin', O
O little, little did I think
At nineteen I'd be greetin', O.

sung by Jean Redpath, Jeannie Robertson
SOF

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!