by Sir Alexander Boswell (1775 - 1822)
Jenny dang the weaver
Language: English
At Willie's wedding o' the green, The lasses, bonny witches, Were buskit out in aprons clean, And snaw-white Sunday's mutches. Auld Maysie bade the lads tak' tent, But Jock wad nae believe her; And soon the fool his folly kent, For -- Jenny dang the weaver. Sing, fa la la, etc. In ilka countra-dance and reel, Wi' her he wad be babbin; When she sat down, then he sat down, And till her wad be gabbin: Whare'er she gaed, or but or ben, The coof wad never leave her, Ay cacklin like a clockin hen; But -- Jenny dang the weaver. Sing, fa la la, etc. Quoth he, "My lass, to speak my mind, "Good haith! I need na swither; "You've bonny een, and gif you're kind, "I needna court anither." He hum'd and ha'd -- the lass cried, Feugh! And bade the fool no deave her; Then snapt her thumb, and lap and leugh, And -- dang the silly weaver! Sing, fa la la, &c.
GLOSSARY
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Buskit = dressed
Mutches = linen caps
Tak' tent = take heed
Ilka = every
Babbin = dancing
Gabbin = chatting
Or but or ben = outside or inside the house
Coof = blockhead, ninny
Clockin = clucking
Swither = hesitate
Feugh = Fly
Deave = deafen
Lap and leugh = leapt up and laughed
Authorship:
- by Sir Alexander Boswell (1775 - 1822) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Jenny dang the weaver", JHW XXXII/4 no. 272, Hob. XXXIa no. 240 [voice and piano], arrangement; in Scottish Songs for George Thomson III [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2010-04-02
Line count: 27
Word count: 162