Margery Topping/Hooly and fairly

THE
DRUNKEN WIFE OF GALLOWAY.

DOWN in yon meadow a couple did tarry,
The wife she drank naething but wine and canary,
To her friends he complain’d of her right early,
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly,

She’s drunken her stockings, sae has she her shoon,
And she has drunken her bonny new gown,
She’s drunken her fark that cover’d her early,
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly.

First she drank crummy and then she drank garie,
Syne she has drunken my bonny grey marie,
That carried me through the dub and the larie,
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly.

Wad she drink but her nain things I wadna care,
But she drinks my claiths that I canna weel spare,
When I'm wi my gossips, it angers me fairly,
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly.

My Sunday’s coat she has laid it in wad,
And the best blue bonnet e’er was on my head:
At kirk and at market I’m cover’d but barely,
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly.

The very grey mittens that gaed on my hands,
To our neighbour wife she as laid them in pawns,
And any bane-headed staff that I lo’ed sae dearly.
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly.

When there’s ony filler she maun keep the purse.
Gin a seek but a bawbee, she’ll scauld and she'll curse,
She lives like a queen I scrimpet and sparely,
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly.

I ne’er was inclining to wrangling and strife
Nor wad I refuse what’s needfu’ for life,
Ere we come to war, I'm ay for a parley.
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly.

A pint wi her kimmers I wad her allow,
But when she sits down she drinks till she's fou
And when she is fou she's unco camstrarie,
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly.

When she gaes to the causy she roars and she rants
Regardless of neighbours, nor minds the house wants,
Sings some foolish lilt, like up thy heart Charlie,
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly.

And when she comes hame, she lays on the lads,
She ca s the lasses baith limmers and jades.
And me mysell nought but an auld cuckold carlie,
Oh gin my wife wad drink hooly and fairly.