Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Ca Hawkie
Ca Hawkie
Ca Hawkie
Ca Hawkie, drive Hawkie,
Ca Hawkie throu' the water.
Hawkie is a good milk coo,
Bit Hawkie winna wade the water.
I'll cast aff ma hose an' sheen,
An' I'll drive Hawkie throu' the water.
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Paul Past & Present of Aberdeenshire (1881), 149 (no. 10);
Rymour Club Misc. III (1928), 180; Montgomerie SC
(1948), 47 (No. 44).
Chambers PRS (1847), 187, (1870), 24, has differs: lines 3-4
Hawkie is a sweer beast, and 5 But I'll. This latter is
understandably closer to the Northumbrian version in Bruce &
Stokoe (1882), 121, with music:
[Chorus:] Ca' Hawkie, ca' Hawkie,
Ca' Hawkie through the water,
Hawkie is a sweir beast,
And Hawkie winna wade the water.
Hawkie is a bonnie cow,
Though she's loth to wade the water;
While she waits the work'll stand,
So ca' Hawkie through the water.
[two more stanzas]
Now, young maids, my counsel take,
Since that it can be no better;
Cast off baith your hose and shoon,
And safely drive her through the water.
MS