Guise o Tough

1: I cam in be Alford,
An for tae get a fee,
An there I met wi Jamie Broon,
An there we did agree.

Tum a hi tum doo, a hi tum day,

Hi tum a diddle tum a hi tum day.

2: Well I agreed wi Jamie Broon,
In the year o ninety one,
Tae gang hame and caw his second pair,
An be his orraman.

3: When I cam hame tae Guise o Tough,
It was an evenin clear,
Oot aboot some orra hoose,
The gaffer did appear.

4: Says, “I’m the maister o the hoose,
An that’s the mistress here;
If ye want some breid an cheese,
Ye’ll shairly get yer share.”

5: Then I gaed tae the stable,
Ma pairie for tae view;
Fegs they were a dandy pair,
A chestnut and a blue.

6: Then early next mornin,
I gaed tae the ploo;
Lang, lang e’er lowsin time,
Ma pairie gart me rue.
Tum a hi tum doo, a hi tum day,
Hi tum a diddle tum a hi tum day.

7: Ma ploo she wisna workin weel,
It widna thraw the fur;
The gaffer says, “There’s a better een,
At the smiddy tae gang for.”

8: When I got hame, the new ploo,
She pleased me unco weel;
I thocht she wid be better,
Gin she had a cuttin wheel.

9: Ma song’s no nearly ended,
But I’ll no sing ony more;
If ye be offended,
Ye can walk ootside the door.

Tum a hi tum doo, a hi tum day,

Hi tum a diddle tum a hi tum day.

c p 1981 Springthyme Records : www.springthyme.co.uk