Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
Wha’ wad’na be in love wi’ bonnie Maggie Lauder
A piper met her goin’ tae Fife and askit what they ca’d her
Right scornfully she answered him B’gone ye heilan’ shacker
Jog on yer gait ye bleth’rin’ skate my name is Maggie Lauder
Chorus:
Up the stairs, doon the stairs, I play my chanter rarely
The mair ye hug and kiss the girls the mair they’ll want to marry
Oh Meg, says he, and by my bags, I’m fidgin’ fain tae see ye
Sit doon by me my bonnie bird, in troth I wadnae steer ye
For I’m a piper tae my trade my name is Rob the Ranter
The lasses loup as they were daft, when I blaw on my chanter
Chorus
Ah weel, says Meg, ha’e you yer bags, and is yer drone in order
If ye be Rob, I’ve heard o’ you, do you live on the Border?
The lasses a’ baith far and near have heard o’ Rob the Ranter
I’ll shake my fir wi’ richt guid will, gin you’ll blaw up yer chanter
Chorus
Then tae his bags he flew wi’ speed, aboot the drone he twisted
Meg up and walloped o’er the green, for brawly could she frisk it
Weel done, says he, Play up, says she. Well bobb’d says Rob the Ranter
It’s worth my while tae play indeed, when I hae sic’ a dancer
Chorus
Weel hae ye played yer part, says Meg. Your cheeks are like the crimson’
There’s nane in Scotland plays sae weel, since we lost Habbie Simpson
I’ve lived in Fife baith maid and wife these ten years and a quarter
The next time your at Anster Fair, just ask for Maggie Lauder
Chorus