7. It Fell About the Martinmas
Words: Trad. Music: © E. Smith MCPS/PRS

It fell about the Martinmas when the snow lay on the border
There cam a troop o’ soldiers here tae tak up their winter’s quarters
They rode up and they rode doon, an’ they rode o’er the border
Until they reached a weel –faur’d maid an’ she was a fairmer’s dochter
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh

It’s siller we’ve cam tae seek fair maid, an’ siller we maun hae all oh
Siller frae me ye canna get fir I’ve got nane at a’
Siller frae me ye cannae get for I’m just a poor man’s wife o
Ma bairnies bide a little forbye an’ a very sober life o
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh

Then they’ve made her swear a solemn oath wi the saut tear in her e’e
That she would call at their quarter gates when no one did her see
As she wis walking up and doon and thinking on her vow
How could she these men beguile and prove a maiden true
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh

She’s gone in tae a barber’s shop, tae a barber’s shop went she o
An’ she’s made him cut her yellow hair a little above her e’e
She’s gone in tae a tailor’s shop, men’s clothing she’s found there
Wi a pair o’ pistols by her side, a bonnie boy was she o
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh

When she reached their quarter gates it’s loud, loud did she call o
There cam a troop o’ soldiers here and we need lodgins all
The quarter master he spoke oot, he gave her half a crown o
Said go get lodgins for yirsel for this nicht there cams a wench o
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh

She’s ta’en the garters frae her legs and the ribbons frae her hair o
An’ she tied them roon’ their wide gate post as a token that she’d been there
But when they saw that it wis her, it’s they would have her in o
But she’s put the spurs tae her horse’s side and she went a maiden hame o
Tae ma right doodle, right doodle die, right doodle day die oh…