THE MONYMUSTK LADS

As l cam' in bY Monymustk
And doon by Alford's dale,
A sad misfortune happened to me
And l think nae shame to tell

cho: Fal to too a riddle doo
Fal to toodle I doe

As l gaed in by Monymustk
The moon was shining clear;
And I held on to Lethendy
To see my Maggie dear

I did gang when I did think
That a' were sleepin' soun',
But plague upon yon auld wife
For she cam' slinkin' doon
Sae cannily she slipped the lock
And set the door agee;
Then crawled upon her hands and knees
To see what it could be

Then to the bells, wi' a' her micht
Sae loud she made thern ring
Till faith! l thoeht aboot my lugs
The biggin she would bring

And when she saw l wouldna slip
She ran to the guidman
Says: "There's a lad into the hoose
And that l winna stand

"For it is a most disgraceful thing
It would provoke a saunt
To see a' the servant girls wi' lads
When the gentle anes maun want"
"Providence has acted wrang
Sic pleasures for to gie
Tae ony servant lad or lass
Just working for a fee"

The auld man he cam' ben himsel'
And he pushed ben his heid;
Guidfaith! I thocht it was a ghost
Just risen frae the deid

He'd duddy draws upon his legs,
He'd on a cap o' white
And he'd a face as lang's my leg
And in his hand a light

He's ta'en me by the shoulders broad
An' pushed me oot o' doors
Thinks I, my auld lad, I'll come back
When sleepin' gars ye snore
From Folk Songs and Ballads of Scotland, MacColl
@nightvisit @Scots @servant
filename[ MONYMUSK
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