The Auld Man Gaun to be Married
Anonymous
Published 1855
In Beith there lived a frail auld man,
His age was sixty-five an' ten,
Wha took a break, whan near his en’
that he wad gang an' marry :
The auld man there liv d in Beith.
The aged man that dwall't in Beith,
The deein' man that liv'd in Beith.
he wad gang try an' marry.
He lee'd an cheated pinched his wame,
Grew rich by mony a dirty scheme,
But he turned auld an' stiff an' lame,
Black crabbit an camstrary.
The rich auld man that liv'd in Beith,
The worthless man hat dwall t in Beith.
The crabbit man that dwall‘t in Beith,
wad fain gae try an marry.
He thought on Meg sae trig an douce,
To wash his claes an clean his house
That ne er a spider nor a louse,
in his abode might tarry,
The aged man that liv'd in Beith,
The dirty man that liv'd in Beith,
The black auld man that wenn'd in Beith,
Saw nae relief but marry.
He promised cash he hecht her braws,
Himsel an' a' within his was
Nae bittin horse nor empty sta's,
but brimfu cups to carry.
The loving man that lived in Beith
The amorous man hat dwelt in Beith,
The frank auld man that dwalt in Beith,
wad gie his all an marry.
But ah, the road to her was lang
The man was frail an‘ cou‘dna gang;
His kin said things war, a gaun wrang-
The auld fool wad them herry.
The frail auld man that liv d in Beith;
The cross‘d auld chap that liv‘d in Beith,
The vex d auld man that dwall‘t in Beith,
They wadna let him marry.
They watch‘d him closely out and in
Said he was daft--they wad him bin
The frail auld Beith man didna win
To court his winsome deary.
The captive man that lived in Beith;
The daft auld fool that was in Beith
The auld man that liv‘d in Beith,
He ne er got leave to marry,
Ye youngsters a' that hear my sang
Gif e’er ye marry do t ere lang,
For time and care will ding ye wrang,
An' ye'll grow stiff and sairy-
Just like the auld black man in Beith
The doitet worn out man o‘ Beith,
The single man that liv d in Beith,
Wha couldna maun to marry.
Ye're just as daft's the man o Beith,
Your staunch auld friend that liv’d in Beith:
Ye'll perish like the man o' Beith,
Wha dee't ere he could marry.
When ye are auld, gin ye he poor,
Your kin will drive you frae their door:
Gin ye be rich they'll use you waur,
They ll never let you marry.
This fate befel the mon of Beith,
The poor rich man that liv‘d iu Beith,
A warning to the folk o’ Beith,
To gang in time and marry.
Execution time: 0.081 seconds