The Three Nuns in the Cowgate

There's a land in the Cowgate that's kept by lasses,
It may be weel kent by ilk ane that passes;
They will rather take fiddlers, pipers and drums,
Before that they'll stand by the name of the Nuns.

CHORUS: An auld maid and a hantle o' siller,
        An auld maid and a hantle o' siller,
        Gin she hadna haen that, fient ane wad gane till her;
        An auld maid and a hantle o' siller.

The first that gaed aff was was Mistress Ann,
Who vow'd and declar'd that she'd ha'e a man;
She wad ha'e a man, and she'd tarry nae langer,
For at the Nun's Land she had tane a great anger. / CHORUS

The next that gaed aff was mistress Mary,
Who vow'd and declar'd that she wad miscarry;
And if she miscarry'd she was surely undone,
For she mortally hated the name of a Nun. / CHORUS

Now good Mistres Jean is left all alone,
To sigh and to sob, and make great moan;
Will nae body come and tak' pity on me,
And marry me quickly before that I die!

CHORUS: Some auld women gang mad for to marry,
        Some auld women gang mad for to marry,
        In the shape of a man they wou'd jump at Auld Harry,
        Some auld women gang mad for to marry.

• Tune (The Old Maid in the Garret) gif midi mov
• Tune (Tibby Fowler) gif midi mov

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Copyright © 2001, Jack Campin