Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

John Tod

Traditional

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

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 212 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

He's a terrible man, John Tod, John Tod,

He's a terrible man, John Tod;

He scolds in the house, he scolds at the door,

He scolds in the very hie road, John Tod,

He scolds in the very hie road.

The weans a' fear John Tod, John Tod,

The weans a' fear John Tod;

When he's passing by, the mothers will cry,

Here's an ill wean, John Tod, John Tod,

Here's an ill wean, John Tod.

The callants a' fear John Tod, John Tod,

The callants a' fear John Tod;

If they steal but a neep, the laddie he'll whip,

And it's unco weel done o' John Tod, John Tod,

And it's unco weel done o' John Tod.

And saw ye nae little John Tod, John Tod?

O saw ye nae little John Tod?

His shoon they were re'in, and his feet they were seen,

But stout does he gang on the road, John Tod,

But stout does he gang on the road.

How is he fendin', John Tod, John Tod?

How is he fendin', John Tod?

He is scourin' the land wi' a rung in his hand,

And the French wadna frighten John Tod, John Tod,

And the French wadna frighten John Tod.

Ye're sun-burnt and batter'd, John Tod, John Tod,

Ye're tautit and tatter'd, John Tod;

Wi' your auld strippit cowl ye look maist like a fule;

But there's nouse in the linin', John Tod, John Tod,

But there's nouse in the linin', John Tod.

He's weel respeckit, John Tod, John Tod,

He's weel respeckit, John Tod;

Though a terrible man, we'd a' gang wrang,

If he should leave us, John Tod, John Tod,

If he should leave us, John Tod.

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 Tod”

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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