Wee Cooper O' Fife Lyrics

Burl Ives - Wee Cooper of Fife

There was a wee cooper what lived in Fife
[Chorus: 1 Knickety, knackety, noo noo noo]
And he had gotten a gentle wife
[Chorus: 2 Hey willy-wallacky, how John Dougal, a lane quo rooshety roo roo roo.]

She wouldna bake, nor she wouldna brew
[Chorus: 1]
For the spoilin' o' her comely hue
[Chorus: 2]

She wouldna wash, nor she wouldna wring
[Chorus: 1]
For the spoilin' o' her gowden ring
[Chorus: 2]

She wouldna card, nor she wouldna spin
[Chorus: 1]
For the shamin' o' her gentle kin
[Chorus: 2]

So the wee cooper went to his woodpack
[Chorus: 1]
And laid a sheepskin on his wife's back
[Chorus: 2]

'Now, I wouldna thrash ye for your gentle kin,
[Chorus: 1]
But I would thrash me ain sheepskin.'
[Chorus: 2]

'Oh, I will bake and I will brew,
[Chorus: 1]
And nae mair think o' my comely hue!
[Chorus: 2]

'And I will wash and I will wring,
[Chorus: 1]
And nae mair think o' my gowden ring!
[Chorus: 2]

'And I will card and I will spin
[Chorus: 1]
And nae mair think o' my gentle kin!'
[Chorus: 2]

So ye what has gotten a gentle wife,
[Chorus: 1]
Just ye send for the wee cooper o' Fife!
[Chorus: 2, slowing down at the end]