Willie Wastle.

Tune - "The eight men of Moidart."


I.

    Willie Wastle dwalt on Tweed,
        The spot they call'd it Linkum-doddie.
    Willie was a wabster guid,
        Cou'd stown a clue wi' onie bodie;
    He had a wife was dour and din,
        O Tinkler Madgie was her mither;
    Sic a wife as Willie had,
        I wad nae gie a button for her.

II.

    She has an e'e, she has but ane,
        The cat has twa the very colour;
    Five rusty teeth, forbye a stump,
        A clapper-tongue wad deave a miller:
    A whiskin' beard about her mou',
        Her nose and chin they threaten ither
    Sic a wife as Willie had,
        I wad nae gie a button for her.

III.

    She's bow hough'd, she's hem shinn'd,
        A limpin' leg, a hand-breed shorter;
    She's twisted right, she's twisted left,
        To balance fair in ilka quarter:
    She has a hump upon her breast,
        The twin o' that upon her shouther
    Sic a wife as Willie had,
        I wad nae gie a button for her.

IV.

    Auld baudrans by the ingle sits,
        An' wi' her loof her face a-washin';
    But Willie's wife is nae sae trig,
        She dights her grunzie wi' a hushion.
    Her walie nieves like midden-creels,
        Her face wad fyle the Logan-Water
    Sic a wife as Willie had,
        I wad nae gie a button for her.