Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Whistle Whistle Auld Wife
Whistle Whistle Auld Wife
Whistle Whistle Auld Wife
1.
Whistle, whistle, auld wife,
And ye'se get a hen.
I wadna whistle, quo' the wife,
Though ye wad gie me ten.
Whistle, whistle, auld wife,
And ye'se get a cock.
I wadna whistle, quo' the wife,
Though ye wad gie me a flock.
Whistle, whistle, auld wife,
And ye'se get a man.
Wheep-whaup! quo' the wife,
I'll whistle as I can.
2.
"Whistle, whistle, auld wife,
An' ye'se get a hen."
"I wadna whistle," quo' the wife,
"Though ye wad gi'e me ten."
"Whistle, whistle, auld wife,
An' ye'se get a cock."
"I wadna whistle," quo' the wife,
"Though ye'd gi'e me a flock."
"Whistle, whistle, auld wife,
An' ye'se get a goun."
"I wadna whistle," quo' the wife,
"For the best ane i' the toun."
"Whistle, whistle, auld wife,
An' ye'se get a coo."
"I wadna whistle," quo' the wife,
"Though ye wad gi'e me two."
"Whistle, whistle, auld wife,
An' ye'se get a man."
"Wheeple-whauple," quo' the wife,
"I'll whistle as I can."
3.
"Fustle, fustle! auld wife,
And I'll gi'e you a hen."
"'Deed a couldna fustle, sir,
Though ye should gi'e me ten."
"Fustle, fustle! auld wife,
And I'll gi'e you a coo."
"'Deed a couldna fustle, sir,
Though ye should gi'e me two."
"Fustle, fustle! auld wife,
And I'll gi'e you a man."
"Phoo-phoo-phoo-phoo!
I'll dae the best I can."
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(1) Chambers PRS (1826); 1847, 188; 1870, 25; NAE
(1932), 22. MacLennan SNR (1909), 24, slight differs.
(2) Ford CR, 136; Montgomerie SNR (1946), 120 (no. 152).
(3) Rymour Club Misc. I (1906-11), 178 (in 3 couplets).
ODNR 143-4 (no. 128).
MS
oct99