The Deuk's Dang O'er My Daddie

1.
The bairns gat out wi' an unco shout: --
' The deuk's dang o'er my daddie, O!'
' The fien-ma-care,' quo' the ferrie auld wife,
' He was but a paidlin body, O!
He paidles out, and he paidles in,
An' he paidles late and early, O!
This seven lang years I hae lien by his side,
An' he is but a fusionless carlie, O!'

(Note:- Paidlin in this verse would mean to
paddle or walk unsteadily, or to stagger.)


2.
' O, haud your tongue, my ferrie auld wife,
' O, haud your tongue, now Nansie, O!
I've seen the day, and sae hae ye,
Ye wad na been sae donsie, O.
I've seen the day ye butter'd my brose,
And cuddl'd me late and early, O;
But downa-do's come o'er me now,
And och, I find it sairly, O!'

(Note:- ' och' is a typical Scottish expression of
resignation that can be interpreted as ' Oh my, or dear me'.)

The Duck Has Knocked Over My Daddy


The children got out with an surprising shout: --
' The duck has knocked over my daddy, O!'
' The fiend-may-care (no matter),' said the lusty old wife,
' He was but a paddling body, O!
He paddles out, and he paddles in,
And he paddles late and early, O!
This seven long years I have lain by his side,
And he is but a sapless old man, O'






O, hold your tongue, my lusty old wife,
' O, hold your tongue, now Nansie, O!
I have seen the day, and so have you,
You would not been so restive, O.
I have seen the day you buttered my raw oatmeal and water,
And cuddled me late and early, O;
But cannot-do has come over me now,
And och, I find it sorely, O!'