possibly by Francis Sempill (1616 - 1682)
Maggie Lauder
Language: English
Wha wadna be in love Wi' bonie Maggy Lauder? A piper met her gaun to Fife, And spier'd what was't they ca'd her? Right scornfully she answer'd him, "Begone, you hallanshaker; "Jogg on your gate, you bladderskate, "My name is Maggy Lauder." "Maggy," quo' he, "and by my bags, "I'm fidging fain to see thee; "Sit down by me, my bonie bird, "In troth I winna steer thee: "For I'm a piper to my trade, "My name is Rob the Ranter; "The lasses loup as they were daft "When I blaw up my chanter." "Piper," quo' Meg, "ha'e ye your bags, "Or is your drone in order? "If you be Rob, I've heard of you; "Live you upo' the border? "The lasses a', baith far and near "Have heard of Rob the Ranter; "I'll shake my foot wi' right good-will, "Gif you'll blaw up your chanter." Then to his bags he flew with speed, About the drone he twisted; Meg up, and wallop'd o'er the green, For brawly could she frisk it. "Weel done," quo' he "Play up," quo' she: "Weel bobb'd," quo' Rob the Ranter; "It's worth my while to play indeed, "When I ha'e sic a dancer." "Weel ha'e you play'd your part," quo' Meg, "Your cheeks are like the crimson; "There's nane in Scotland plays sae weel, "Since we lost Habby Simson. "I've liv'd in Fife, baith maid and wife, "These ten years and a quarter; "Gin you should come to Anst'er fair, "Spier ye for Maggy Lauder."
Glossary
Spier'd = asked, enquired
Hallanshaker = ragamuffin
Jogg on your gate = get on your way
Bladderskate = foolish babbling fellow
Fidging = fidgeting
Steer = molest
Loup = leap, jump
Brawly = very well
Anst'er = Anstruther, a fishing village in Fife
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Spier'd = asked, enquired
Hallanshaker = ragamuffin
Jogg on your gate = get on your way
Bladderskate = foolish babbling fellow
Fidging = fidgeting
Steer = molest
Loup = leap, jump
Brawly = very well
Anst'er = Anstruther, a fishing village in Fife
Authorship:
- possibly by Francis Sempill (1616 - 1682), "Maggie Lauder", written c1642 [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), "Maggie Lauder", JHW. XXXII/3 no. 164, Hob.XXXIa no. 35bis [baritone, violin, violoncello, and piano], also set in German (Deutsch) [ sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Joseph Haydn.
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2009-08-12
Line count: 40
Word count: 251