I hae laid a herring in saut –
  Lass, gin ye lo’e me tell me know;
I hae brew’d a forpit o’ maut,
  And I canna come ilka day to woo:
I hae a calf that will soon be a cow –
  Lass, gin ye lo’e me tell me know;
I hae a stook, and I’ll soon hae a mowe,
  And I canna come ilka day to woo:

I hae a house upon yon moor –
  Lass, gin ye lo’e me tell me know;
Three sparrows may dance upon the floor,
  And I canna come ilka day to woo:
I hae a but, and I hae a ben - 
  Lass, gin ye lo’e me tell me know;
A penny to keep, and a penny to spen’,
  And I canna come ilka day to woo:

I hae a hen wi’ a happitie-leg –
  Lass, gin ye lo’e me tell me know;
That ilka day lays me an egg,
  And I canna come ilka day to woo:
I hae a cheese upon my skelf -
  Lass, gin ye lo’e me tell me know;
And soon wi’ mites ‘twill rin itself,
  And I canna come ilka day to woo.