Sandie Toy
1.
There was a man, a man indeed;
He sowed his garden full of seed.
When the seed began to grow,
'Twas like a garden full of snow.
When the snow began to melt,
'Twas like a ship without a belt.
When the ship began to sail,
'Twas like a bird without a tail.
When the bird began to fly,
'Twas like an eagle in the sky.
When the sky began to roar,
'Twas like a lion at my door.
When my door began to crack,
'Twas like a stick upon my back.
When my back began to bleed,
It's time for me to die indeed.
2.
Sandie Toy, Sandie Toy, Sandie Tiddlem, Tiddlem Toy.
There was a man, a man indeed; he sowed his garden full of seed;
When the seed began to grow, like a garden full of snow;
When the snow began to melt, like a ship without a belt;
When the ship began to sail, like a bird without a tail;
When the bird began to fly, like a diamond in the sky;
When the sky began to roar, like a lion at my door;
When the door began to crack, like a stick across my back.
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(1) Nicholson Golspie (1897), 190. Tune (p. 207) is
that of "Mrs. Brown", q.v., the last two lines of an
1867 song, "Not for Joe". Cf. Halliwell, ODNR.
(2) Maclagan Games and Diversions of Argyleshire (1901),
131, with music. Rhyme repeated to accompany a girls'
hand-clapping game: two rows facing each other; each
claps her hands, claps the right of her opposite, her
own, her partner's left; etc. Very similar is the
following, from Fife, 1945:
Sandy Taw, Sandy Taw, doodlum doodlum doodlum daw.
There was a man of double deed, who sowed his garden
full of seed;
When the seed began to grow, 'twas like [etc.];
[The rest similar, till] 'twas like a knock upon my door;
When the door began to crack, 'twas like a stick upon my back;
When my back began to smart, 'twas like a penknife in my heart;
And when my heart began to bleed, then I was dead and dead indeed.
[The music is a variation on Maclagan tune.]
MS
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!