BarWhat Can a Young Lassie

Sung by Jane Turriff self accompanied with harmonium pedal organ.

This song is said to have been written specially for the Scots Musical Museum by Burns in 1790 (Johnson, 327 and Henley and Henderson Vol. III, p.368). The tempo in the Musical Museum is listed as "lively but not too fast", but Jane sings at a very relaxed tempo, reflecting her interpretation of the lyrics: "Ye see, in the old days, people were poor and wid pass on their faimly tae ithers tae git money."

What Can a Young Lassie

1: What can a young lassie, what can a young lassie,
What can a young lassie dae wi an aul man?
He's peavisht an jealous o as the young fellows;
O dool on the day I met wi an aul man.

2: O what can a young lassie, what can a young lassie,
What can a young lassie dae wi an aul man?
Bad luck on the penny that tempted my Minnie,
For tae sell her poor Jenny for hooses an land.

3: O he hums an he hankers, he frets an he cankers,
I never cuid please him, doe aa that I can;
He's dowie an dozin an his blood it is frozen,
O dool on. the day I met wi an aid man.

4: But my auld auntie Katie, upon me she takes pity,
I'll do endeavour for roe follow her plan:
I'll cross him, I'll crack him, until I hert brak him
An wi his aul brass I well buy me a new pan.

5: What can a young lassie, what can a young lassie,
O what can a young lassie doe wi an aul man?
Bad luck on the penny that tempted my Minnie,
For to sell her poor Jenny for hooses an land.

6: O he hums an he hankers, he frets an he cankers,
O I never cuid please him, doe aa that I can;
He's dowie an dozin an his blood it is frozen,
O dool on the day I met ui an aul man.

Jane usually ends the last verse with the line, "Oh dreary's my life wi a crazy auld man."

Recorded by Allan Palmer at Jane's home in Mintlaw, 1979.