There was a jolly beggar and a-beggin he had been,
Wi' his foll and his doll and his dandy-o
He'd left his winter quarters in a house in Aberdeen,
Wi'is teer-a-noora neer-a-noora nandy-o.
He was seekn' lodgin's on a Saturday for free,
Wi' his foll and his doll and his dandy-o
Tryin' to get a house there, all for charity,
Wi'is teer-a-noora neer-a-noora nandy-o.
The farmer and his good wife had ta'en the stranger in,
Wi' his foll and his doll and his dandy-o
They began to crack 'til the night was growin' dim,
Wi'is teer-a-noora neer-a-noora nandy-o.
He would nae sleep into barn, nor yet into the bier,
Wi' his foll and his doll and his dandy-o
But he would sleep intae the hall afore the kitchen fire,
Wi'is teer-a-noora neer-a-noora nandy-o.
The farmer's daughter Jean, come down to by the door
Wi' his foll and his doll and his dandy-o
And there she spied the beggar lyin' naked on the floor.
Wi'is teer-a-noora neer-a-noora nandy-o.
The beggar's ta'en her in his hands, and tae the bedroom ran,
Wi' his foll and his doll and his dandy-o
Be easy wi' me now, or you'll waken our good man,
Wi'is teer-a-noora neer-a-noora nandy-o.
The beggar was a cunnin' loon, and ne'er a word he spak,
Wi' his foll and his doll and his dandy-o
Tounge was wet as ever and he began to crack,
Wi'is teer-a-noora neer-a-noora nandy-o.
The farmer and his good wife, come down next mornin' e'en,
Wi' his foll and his doll and his dandy-o
The beggar was awa, and he'd ta'en their daugther Jean,
Wi'is teer-a-noora neer-a-noora nandy-o.
Seven years passed, seven years and twa
Wi' his foll and his doll and his dandy-o
Jeana and the beggar man were comin' down the wa
Wi'is teer-a-noora neer-a-noora nandy-o.
And Jean was dressed in satins, and then the selksie bride
Wi' his foll and his doll and his dandy-o
And he wasna beggar (Unknown) king's knights
Wi'is teer-a-noora neer-a-noora nandy-o.