Wee Cooper O'Fife - Lyrics

"Wee Cooper O'Fife" is a Scottish folk song about a cooper who beats his wife because she will not cook, clean, and sew. It was recorded by Burl Ives on 11 February 1941 for his debut album Okeh Presents the Wayfaring Stranger. It has also been recorded by Hedy West, Ed McCurdy, and Ian Campbell.

There was a wee cooper wha lived in Fife, Nickety, nackety, noo, noo, noo, And he has gotten a gentle wife, Hey willy wallachy, how John Dougal Alane quo rushety, roo, roo, roo. She wadna bake and she wadna brew, Nickety, nackety, noo, noo, noo, For the spoiling o' her comely hue, Hey willy wallachy, how John Dougal Alane quo rushety, roo, roo, roo. She wadna card and she wadna spin, Nickety, nackety, noo, noo, noo, For the shaming o' her gentle kin, Hey willy wallachy, how John Dougal Alane quo rushety, roo, roo, roo. The cooper's awa to his woo' pack Nickety, nackety, noo, noo, noo, And he's laid a sheepskin on his wife's back Hey willy wallachy, how John Dougal Alane quo rushety, roo, roo, roo. Til no trash you for your proud kin Nickety, nackety, noo, noo, noo, But I will thrash my am sheepskin.' Hey willy wallachy, how John Dougal Alane quo rushety, roo, roo, roo. O I will bake and I will brew: Nickety, nackety, noo, noo, noo, And never think mair o' my comely hue.' Hey willy wallachy, how John Dougal Alane quo rushety, roo, roo, roo. O I will card and I will spin: Nickety, nackety, noo, noo, noo, And never think mair o' my gentle kin.' Hey willy wallachy, how John Dougal Alane quo rushety, roo, roo, roo. A' ye wha hae gotten a gentle wife Nickety, nackety, noo, noo, noo, Just send ye for the wee cooper o' Fife. Hey willy wallachy, how John Dougal Alane quo rushety, roo, roo, roo.