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Public-domain lyrics

John Maut

Traditional

“John Maut” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 211 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Ye'll a' ha'e heard tell o' John Maut, John Maut,

Ye'll a' ha'e heard tell o' John Maut;

He's been sae to blame, that he's got a bad name,

But, faith! he's far waur than he's ca't, John Maut.

His doublet is raggit, John Maut, John Maut,

His doublet is raggit, John Maut,

His hat's down in the crown, he has awfu' like shoon,

And his stockings are waefully gau't, John Maut.

Ye'll a' ha'e, &c.

He swears like a trooper, John Maut, John Maut,

He swears like a trooper, John Maut;

He ne'er sticks at a lee, and he'll fecht wi' a flee,

Tho' nane but himsel's in the faut, John Maut.

Ye'll a' ha'e, &c.

He's whiles in the skies, John Maut, John Maut,

He's whiles in the skies, John Maut;

But down in the mud, he plays clash wi' a thud,

And his claes ye might clean wi' a claut, John Maut.

Ye'll a' ha'e, &c.

The weans they get fun wi' John Maut, John Maut,

The weans they get fun wi' John Maut,

They hoot and they cry as they see him gang by,

But whiles though he lends them a claut, John Maut.

Ye'll a' ha'e, &c.

The lasses a' lo'e John Maut, John Maut,

The lasses a' lo'e John Maut;

They swear it's no true, but they get themsels fou,

And then they sairly misca't, John Maut.

Ye'll a' ha'e, &c.

The wives are fond o' John Maut, John Maut,

The wives are a' fond o' John Maut;

They say he is gran', they ne'er mind their guidman,

But they coax, and they cuddle, and daut, John Maut.

Ye'll a' ha'e, &c.

Sae I redd ye tak' tent o' John Maut, John Maut,

I redd ye tak' tent o' John Maut;

He's no weel to ha'e for a friend or a fae,

Sae I redd ye keep out o' his claut, John Maut.

Ye'll a' ha'e, &c.

Credits

Written by Traditional

Traditional words. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “John Maut”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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