Upstairs and Downstairs

trad 

 

Archie Fisher recorded in 1976 on The Man With a Rhyme, where he wrote: “A song that puts very succinctly the penalties and shame incurred from the sowing of wild oats. Most versions, including this one, are from the Herd manuscripts.”

Archie Fisher: Upstairs and Downstairs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWs72LO9K-o

As I cam’ in by Fisherrow, Musselburgh was near me. I threw off my mussel pyock and courted wi’ my dearie. Chorus: Upstairs, downstairs, timmer stairs fears me; I thocht it wrang tae lie my lane when I’m sae near my dearie. Nao, had her apron bidden doon the kirk would ne’er a-ken’t it, But now the news gaes through the toon; I fear I canna mend it. And she maun tak’ the cutty stool, and I maun hae the pillar’, And that’s the way the poor folks dae, because they hae nae siller.