Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Lauchie's Promotions

Traditional

“Lauchie's Promotions” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 226 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

Nainsel she was porn 'mang ta Hielan' hills,

'Mang ta goats, an' ta sheeps, an' ta whiskee stills,

An' ta brochan, an' brogues, an' ta snuishin' mills,

Oich! she was ta ponnie land she was porn in:

For a' ta lads there will be shentlemans porn,

An' will wear skean-dhu an' ta praw snuishin'-horn,

An' ta fine tartan trews her praw houghs to adorn,

An' mak' her look fu' spruce in ta mornin'.

Noo, ta shentlemans will no like to wroughtin' at a',

But she'll sit py ta grieshach her haffets to claw;

An' pe birsle her shanks, till they're red as ta haw,

An' a' fu' o' measles ilka mornin'.

But her nainsel' at last to ta Lalans cam' doon,

An' will got her a place 'mang ta mhor Glaschow toon;

Whar she's noo prush-ta-poot, an' pe polish-ta-shoon,

An' pe shentleman's flunkie in ta mornin'.

But at last she will turn very full o' ta proud,

An' she'll hold up her heads, an' she'll spoke very loud,

An' she'll look wi' disdains 'pon ta low tirty crowd,

Tat will hing 'pout ta doors ilka mornin'.

Noo, her nainsel is go to have one merry ball,

Whar she'll dance Killum Callum, hoogh! ta best o' them all,

For ta ponniest dancer she'll pe in ta hall,

Aye, either 'mang ta evenin' or mornin'.

Ither lads will have lasses, hersel will have no,

It pe far too expense wi' ta lassie to go;

So, she'll shust dance hersel', her fine preedings to show,

Tat she learn 'mang ta place she was porn in.

Then ta lads will cry "Lauchie, where from did you'll cam',

Tat you'll not give ta lassie ta dance an' ta dram?"

But te're a' trouster mosachs, every one shust ta sam',

They wad spulzie all her sporran ere ta mornin'.

Noo, she's thochtin' she'll yet turn a praw waiter's pell,

When she wear ta fine pump an' pe dress very well;

An' py Sheorge! ere she'll stop, she'll pe maister hersel,

In spite o' a' their taunts an' their scornin'.

Syne wha like ta great Maister Fraser will pe,

When she'll hing up ta sign o' the "Golden Cross Key,"

An' will sit in her parlour her orders to gi'e

To her waiters an' her boots in ta mornin'?

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, “Lauchie's Promotions”

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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