SCOTS Project - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Document : 585 Title : Burns Nicht Sang for Andra Kindness Author(s): Wendy de Rusett Copyright holder(s): Wendy de Rusett Text (air: South Georgia Whaling Song) Noo women are saucy an women are sweet, An some they will charm you richt aff your feet! An ithers torment you an fair gar ye greet, But for aa that I value my freedom! Some lassies will kittle you till you are hoarse, Wi laughin an wheezing an hoastin of course. An kittling can lead tae canoodlin of course! But for aa that I fancy ma freedom! Chorus: For aa o their charmin, disarmin wee ways, Their frills an their ribbons an colourful claes, I’ll bide a batchelor aa o ma days, For I prize, abeen aa, ma freedom. Noo a single mans’s hoose it is empty an bare, Nae a flooer on the table, nor cushion on chair, An the sweet small of bakin is nae in the air, But for aa that I’m gled o ma freedom. True, a lassie will mak you a tasty bit treat, An fancy wee pieces an pastries tae eat, An’ll sit on yer knee an’ll cry you her “sweet”, But for aa that I treasure ma freedom. (Chorus) I will tell you a secret I’ve nae tellt afore: I cuid hae been merriet tae mebbe a score. There wis Meg, Peg and Katie, and Jeannie an more, But for aa that I cherish ma freedom! An noo that I’m aller an hivnae a wife, Nae bairns an gran’bairns tae cause me sic strife, Tae plunner ma siller at the point of a knife! It’s nae wunner I value ma freedom. (Chorus) Och a wife is gey handy fan there’s fairm wark tae dae, At ricklin the peats an at maskin the tae, Fan the hairst’s gaithert in, tae relax in the hay, But for aa that I’d plump for ma freedom. Noo I daur say there’s lassies I left greetin sair, An some threw me ower wi their nib in the air, But the best o them aa said they hidnae a care, For, like me, they’d a likin for freedom. (Chorus) Noo mony an aal spinster will gie me a wink! No dinna be jealous, it’s nae fit you think! We’ll aa lift wir glesses, an a toast we will drink Tae the lads that are champions o freedom! I’m guid-natert an handsome an witty forby. I can dance, I can sing, I can drink the hoose dry. I’m as fit as a fiddle. I am sprightly an spry, Aa because I hiv guarded ma freedom. (Chorus.) (This pen-portrait was created thanks to reminiscences from members of the Day Care Group including 79 year old Andrew himself, who liked the result. I sang it at their Burns Supper and it went down well.) This work is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The SCOTS Project and the University of Glasgow do not necessarily endorse, support or recommend the views expressed in this document. Information about document and author: Text Text audience Adults (18+): Audience size: 21-100 Writer knew intended audience: Text details Method of composition: Handwritten Year of composition: 2000 Word count: 468 General description: A penportrait of a member of a day care centre put to a fairly popular folk melody. Text medium Other: Social gathering for the elderly. Text performance/broadcast details Where performed/broadcast: Performed at a Burns Supper for Elderly, and subsequent other occasions. When performed/broadcast: 2000-01-25 Performed/broadcast by: Author and others. Text setting Leisure/entertainment: Text type Poem/song/ballad: Author Author details Author id: 733 Forenames: Wendy Surname: de Rusett Gender: Female Educational attainment: University Age left school: 18 Upbringing/religious beliefs: Protestantism with a strong agnostic background. Occupation: Drama teacher in Primary Schools Place of birth: Aberdeen Region of birth: Aberdeen Birthplace CSD dialect area: Abd Country of birth: Scotland Father's occupation: University Lecturer Father's country of birth: England Mother's occupation: Housewife Mother's place of birth: Buckie Mother's region of birth: Moray Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: Mry Mother's country of birth: Scotland Languages: Language: Arabic Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: A little. Language: English Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Mother tongue, daily use. Language: French Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Fluent, used for teaching drama Language: Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic Speak: No Read: Yes Write: No Understand: No Circumstances: A little, mainly for singing Language: German Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: A little. Language: Scots Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Learner, in community, occ. for literature Language: Turkish Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: A little.