| lyric | 1. A beggar man cam' owre the lea,
And mony a fine tale he tal’ me.
He was askin’ help for chritee:
’Could you lodge a beggar man?
Ladleea tow row ree.
2. The nicht bein’ dark and somewhat wat
Doun by the fireside the aul’ man sat;
He cuist the mealpock aff his back
An’ sae loudly he lilted an’ sang
Ladlee atow row ree
3. The lassie sat ayont the fire
An’ aye she sang to his desire;
An’ aye she sang to his desire,
‘Would you lodge aleal puir man?’
Ladlee atow row ree
4. ‘I’ll bend my back an’ bow my knee
An’ tie a black patch owre my ee
An’ for a beggar they’ll tak me,
An’ awa’ wi’ you I’ll gang.
Ladlee atow raw ree
5. ‘Rise gudeman an’ wauken your baim
The cheese is to mak’ an the claes to iron,
An' tell her to come speedily ben
For I’m sure she has lain owre lang.
Ladlee atow row ree
6. Up i’ the mornin‘ the auld man rase
He missed the beggar an’ his auld claes,
He missed the beggar an’ his auld claes,
‘I hope there‘s nane 0"" our gude gear gane.’
Ladlee atow row ree
7. He ran to the cupboard, he ran to the kist
'There was naething awa’ that he could miss,
‘Since a’ thing’s right then Praise be blest,
We lodged aleal puir man.’
Ladlee atow row ree
8. Then he gaed to the bed where his dochter lay
The sheets were cauld an’ she was away,
The sheets were cauld an’ she was away,
Away wi’ the beggar man.
Ladlee atow row ree
9. When ten months were past and twelvemonth gane
The same beggar carle came again,
An’ was askin’ help for charitee
‘Could you lodge a beggar man.’
Ladlee atow row ree
10. ‘I never lodged a man but ane
I never had a dochter but ane,
An awa’ wi’ a beggar she has gane,
An‘ I dinna ken nor when nor where.’
Ladlee atow row ree
11. ‘Yonder’s your dochter comin’ owre lea
An’ mony afine tale she’ll tell thee,
She has got a bairn on ilka knee,
An’ anither on the road co'min’ hame.’
Ladlee atow row ree |