Mistress Greig (traditional)

'Twas at a certain ferm toun
on the windin' Deveron-Plaidy border
There was an auld wifey caad Mistress Greig
The servant girlies she kept in order

CHORUS
Tow row row row te fal de diddle di dee
Te fal de diddle di dee te tow row row

Ilka nicht afore she gaed tae bed
She did search the hoose all over
In fearin' a villain micht be there
And amongst them prove a rover

The weemin bein' o' this sae tired
A suit o' men's clothes they procurèd
And they hae made a man o' straa
And in anaith the bed he was buried

When Mistress Greig was jawin' her rouns
'Twas in anaith the bed she spied him
"Come oot o' that, ye villain!" she cried
"An dinna think yer frae me hidin'

The weemin they were pitten up
To tak him frae whaur he was lyin'
And the auld man placed at the fit o' the stairs
To cudgel him when from them flyin'

They've taen him oot and they've lain him doon
The auld man he was for him ready
And when he laid on his stick sae hard
Baith his legs fell from his body

The weemin they were pitten awa
For this ill deeds that they'd been deein'
And Mistress Greig and her auld man
Were left to gaither his body thegither

Mistress Greig and her auld man
Puir auld bodies they need'na bother
And when he lays on his stick sae hard
Perhaps he'll maybe slay some ither!