9. The Lochmaben Harper
Trad. Arr. E. Smith & J. McClennan MCPS/PRS

Oh heard ye o’ a silly harper lived long in Lochmaben toon?
How he did go tae fair England to steal king Henry’s wanton broon
But first he gaed tae his guidwife wi a’ the speed that he could thole
This task said he will never work withoot a mare who has a foal
Sing fadden dilly, fadden dilly, fadden dilly deedle dan

She said you have a guid grey mare that’ll run o’er hills baith low and high
Gae take the grey mare in yer hand and leave the foal at hame wi me
Then tak a halter in your hose and of your purpose dinna fail
But wap it o’er the wanton’s nose and tie it tae the grey mare’s tail
Sing fadden dilly, fadden dilly, fadden dilly deedle dan

Syne ca’ her oot at yon back yeate o’er moss and muir and ilka dale
And she’ll ne’er let the wanton bite til she gets hame to her ain foal
So he is doon tae England gone o’er moss and muir and ilka dale
Until he’s reached king Henry’s yeate and o’ his purpose not tae fail
Sing fadden dilly, fadden dilly, fadden dilly deedle dan

Come in come in you silly harper, o’ your harping let me hear
Oh by my sooth then said the harper I’d rather hae stablin’ fir ma mare
So the king looked oer his left shoulder, said unto his stable groom
Gae take the silly auld harper’s mare and tie her ‘side my wanton broon
Sing fadden dilly, fadden dilly, fadden dilly deedle dan

Then aye he harped and aye he carped til a’ the lords gaed through the floor
They thoucht the music wis sae sweet that they forgot the stable door
An’ aye he carped and he harped til a’ the lords were soon’ asleep
Then quietly took aff his shune and softly doon the stairs did creep
Sing fadden dilly, fadden dilly, fadden dilly deedle dan

He took the halter frae his hose and o’ his purpose didna fail
But wapped it o’er the wanton’s nose and tied it tae the grey mare’s tail
Syne ca’d them oot at yon back yeate o’er moss and muir and ilka dale
An’ she’s ne’er let the wanton bite but held her still gan at her tail
Sing fadden dilly, fadden dilly, fadden dilly deedle dan

The grey mare was right swift o’ fit and didna fail tae find the way
For she wis at Lochmaben’s yeates fu lang three ‘oors ‘er it wis day
And when she reached the harper’s door there she gave mony a nicker and snear
Oh rise, oh rise you lazy lass let in the master and his mare
Sing fadden dilly, fadden dilly, fadden dilly deedle dan

So up she rose put on her clothes and lookit oot through the lock hole
Oh by my sooth then said the lass oor mare has gotten a braw big foal
Come haud the peace you foolish lass the moon’s but glancing in yer e’ee
I’ll wad ma hail fee gainst a groat it’s bigger than e’er oor foal will be
Sing fadden dilly, fadden dilly, fadden dilly deedle dan

Then in the morn at fair daylight when they had ended a’ their cheer
King Henry’s wanton broon was stawn an’ eek the poor auld harper’s mare
Alas! Alas! then said the harper, Alas! Alas! that I cam here
In Scotland I’ve a braw cowte foal and here they’ve stawn my guid grey mare
Come haud the peace you foolish harper o’ your alasin’ let me be
For ye shall get a better mare and weel paid for your cowte foal be
Sing fadden dilly, fadden dilly, fadden dilly deedle dan…….