1: Atween Stanehive and Laurencekirk itÕs there I did agree,
Wi a wealthy fairmer, his foreman for tae be;
Tae drive his twa best horses and tae cairt or herrie or ploo, [harrow
And tae dee aathing about fairm work that richt weel I could do.
2: I worked ma horses carefully and I did ma maister please,
Excepting for some rants o fun which did his temper tease;
But in the month o January as you may well believe,
ItÕs for coortin wi the serving girlie we baith did get wir leave.
3: Ae nicht in tae the stable on a tryst I met her there,
Expecting for tae get some fun or guid advice tae gie her;
But the maister he got word o this and quickly he cam ower,
And itÕs there heÕs gien us baith wir leave just at the stable door.
4: But itÕs nae on the maister o that toun that I lay aa the blame, [toun=farm
But on the maiden o that place, that high respected dame;
ItÕs on the maiden o that place, nae lads come her tae see,
And she could nae stand tae see sic fun atween ma girlie and me.
5: So come aa ye jolly plooman lads and try tae mend the faut, [fault
Be sure itÕs wi the maiden first that ye maun court and daut; [play, fondle
And dinnae coort the serving girlies and let the maiden bye,
Or ye may be sure and very sure yer term will seen be nigh. [seen=soon
6: It is a maist disgraceful thing when coortinÕs caad a crime, [caad=called
It his been practiced in the world, Guid only kens the time;
But in the toun abeen the road it is forbidden there, [abeen=above
So when coorting wi the servant girlies, I bid yees aa beware.
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