The Tod & the Hen
1.
As I went up by Humber Jumber,
Humber Jumber jiny, O,
There I met a hokum pokum,
Carrying off Capriny, O;
Oh, if I'd had my tit my tat,
My tit my tat my tiny, O,
I would have made my hokum pokum,
Lay me down Capriny, O.
2.
As I gaed doon by Humble-dumble,
Humble-dumble, dairie, O;
There I saw Jehoka-poaka
Stealin' awa I-peekie, O:
If I had ha'en my Tit my Tat,
My Tit my Tat my Tairie, O,
I sudna seen Jehoka-poaka
Stealin' awa I-peekie, O.
3.
As I gaed by by Humbydrum,
By Humbydrum by dreary,
I met Jehoky Poky
Cairryin awa Jaipeery.
If I had haen ma tip ma tap,
Ma tip ma tap ma teerie,
I wadna looten Jehoky Poky
Cairry awa Jaipeery.
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(1) Chambers PRS (1870), 26, whence Moffat 50 TSNR
(1933), 26, with tune [var. line 7 I'd have made the
Hokum Pokum].
The version current among Scottish Country dancers
varies slightly; the source is the founder of the RSCDS,
Miss Jean Milligan, who suggested the little song as the
tune for the dance "The Frisky". Var.: 2 Humber jumber
jiley, O; 3 Sir Hoker Poker 4 Carphiley O [i.e. a
Caerphilly hen]. 5 ma tiley O, etc. [N.B. Fraser (1975),
101, spells Jeilie, Teilie, Campeillie.] The tune
resembles a jig, Jockey's Dance.
Also in Rymour Club Misc. I (1906-11), 112; differs: 2
Jeinie 3 Sir Hoker Poker 4 away Campeinie, O 5 If I had
had 6 teinie 7 I'd never have let 8 away [Glossed as
"Wolf, Lamb, and Shepherd"]. Ibid., 165, from
Edinburgh; differs As I went ou/ jynie/Campynie/ tynie/
I wadna hae let. ["Wolf and lamb."]
(2) Rymour Club Misc. I. 59 (in 4 lines); explained as
"A shepherd who, if he had had his dog, would not have
seen the wolf steal his sheep."
(3) Montgomerie SC (1948), 44 (no. 37).
Cf. "I sat upon my houtie croutie".
MS
APR99
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!