by Allan Ramsay (1686 - 1758)
Willie was a wanton wag
Language: English
O Willie was a wanton wag, The blythest lad that e'er I saw, At bridals still he bore the brag, And carried ay the gree awa! His doublet was of Zetland shag, And vow! but Willie he was braw, And at his shoulder hung a tag, That pleas'd the lasses ane and a'. He was a man without a clag, His heart was frank without a flaw; And ay whatever Willie said, It still was hadden as a law. His boots they were made of the jag, When he went to the weapon-shaw; Upon the green nane durst him brag, The fiend a ane amang them a'.
GLOSSARY
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Bore the brag = carried off the highest place or honour
And carried ay the gree = and was the most superior
Zetland shag = material having a long, rough nap
Braw = handsome
Clag = fault
Hadden = held
Jag = the best part of calf leather
Weapon-shaw = show of arms or weapons
Brag = challenge
Authorship:
- by Allan Ramsay (1686 - 1758) [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), "Willie was a wanton wag", JHW. XXXII/1 no. 4, Hob. XXXIa no. 4. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2012-10-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 107