Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The "Occasional" of the Excise

Traditional

“The "Occasional" of the Excise” as printed in The Bennachie Budget (1879).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 428 1879 · historical text
Public domainScottish songChapbook
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Bennachie Budget, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

What’s brewed an’ stilled maun aye be swilled,

Your drouth we ne’er despise, man;

An’ thanks we’ll vent, since Parli’ment

O’er Bailies set th’ Exciseman.

Verse 2

Chorus—He’s nae awa, fair be his fa’,

Chorus—Nor like to gang, the wise man;

Chorus—While drink can rax spontaneous tax,

Chorus—The State will back the Exciseman.

Verse 3

The Bailiehood, in bardach mood,

May gie their wigs a hyse, man,

An’ daur our youth to sloke their drouth,

As we had nae Exciseman.

Chorus.—He nae awa, fair be his fa’, &c.

Verse 4

But dames an’ chiels may crack their heels,

An’ hooch till morn surprise men;

An’ never fear, they’ll want the gear,

As lang’s we’ve kind Excisemen.

Chorus.—He’s nae awa, fair be his fa’, &c.

Verse 5

Tho’ Temp’rance sends her tonguey friends

The Trade to stigmatise, man;

Yet Bailies’ power to stint your hour

Is Baffled by th’ Exciseman.

Chorus.—He’s nae awa, fair be his fa’, &c.

Verse 6

Then dance an’ drink, till doon ye clink,

Nor schape in haste to risé, man;

An’ for the joys o’ midnight ploys,

Drink “Luck to the Exciseman!”

Chorus.—He’s nae awa, fair be his fa’, &c.

Credits

Written by Traditional

Traditional words. Historical text published in The Bennachie Budget (1879); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Bennachie Budget (1879), “The "Occasional" of the Excise”

The 1879 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; traditional entries are public domain.

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 2026-10-27. 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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