Fisherman's Wife

Fa wid be a fisherman's wife

Tae work wi a tub an a scrubber an a knife,

A deed oot fire an a raivelt bed

An awa tae the mussels in the mornin

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in

An there's nae a dry stick tae pit on wir back,

But still we're aa teetotallers

Fa’ll gie's a hand tae rin a ripper lead

Tae try for a coddie in the bay o Peterheid?

They’re maybe at the Lummies or the clock on Sauthoose Heid

Fan we gan tae the sma lines in the mornin

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in

An there's nae a dry stick tae pit on wir back,

But still we're aa teetotallers

Well ma pair auld faither’s in the middle o the flair

Beatin heuks ontae tippets an they’re hingin on his chair

They’re made wi horses hair, for that's the best o gear

Tae be gaan tae the fishin in the mornin

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in

And there's nae a dry stick tae pit on wir back,

But still we're aa teetotallers

It’s doon the Gadle Braes in the middle o the nicht

Wi an aul seerup can an a cannel for a licht

Tae gaither up the pullars, every een o them in sicht

An get the linie baited in the morning

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in

An there's nae a dry stick tae pit on wir back,

But still we're aa teetotallers

It’s easy to the cobbler, sittin in his neuk,

Wi a big copper kettle hingin on a crook

We’re in the boo and we cannae get a heuk

It’s sair haird work in the morning

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in

An there's nae a dry stick tae pit on wir back,

But still we're aa teetotallers

Well it’s no the kin o life that a gentle quine can thole

Wi her fingers reid raw wi the scrubbin oot a yoll

An a littlen on her hip, she’s awa tae cairry coal,

She’ll be caad sair deen in the mornin

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in

An there's nae a dry stick tae pit on wir back,

But still we're aa teetotallers

Still an aa she widna change fir the grandest o yer gear

Fir she never kens the minute when her hert’ll loup wi fear

He’s awa tae the sea and he’s aa that she has dear

She could be a widda wi his bairn in the mornin

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in

An there's nae a dry stick tae pit on wir back,

But still we're aa teetotallers

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in

An there's nae a dry stick tae pit on wir back,

But still we're aa teetotallers

Here we come scoorin in,

Three reefs tae the foresail in

An there's nae a dry stick tae pit on wir back,

But still we're aa teetotallers