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The lyrics, [as heard (!)] sung here by Rory and Alex McEwen are their adaptation
of David Rorie's poem for which a link appears below the song.

1.
The burn wis taken wi' spate
An' a-there cam tumblin doun
Tapsalteerie the half o' a gate
An' auld fish-hake, an' a big muckle skate
An' a lum hat wantin' a croun, Ahoun (Alas !)
A lum hat wantin' a croun

2.
An auld wife stood by the bank
As they gaed swirlin' roun
She took a guid look, an' syne says she
There's food an' there's firin' gaun doun tae the sea
An' a lum hat wantin' a croun, Ahoun
A lum hat wantin' a croun

3.
She grippet the branch o' a saugh
She kicket aff ane o' her shoun
She gied a great hoof, but ower gaes she
An' awa she went wi' a big muckle skate
An' a lum hat wantin' a croun, Ahoun
A lum hat wantin' a croun

4.
She floated thro' mony a mile
Past village an' cottage an' toun
She had terrible tribbble astride o' the gate
Tho' it seemed to gree fine wi' the great muckle skate
An' a lum hat wantin' a croun, Ahoun
A lum hat wantin' a croun

5.
A skipper was pacin' his deck
By the licht o' a pipe an the mune
When he sees an auld body astride o' a gate
Come bobbin' along in the waves wi' a skate
An' a lum hat wantin' a croun, Ahoun
A lum hat wantin' a croun

6.
There's a man o'erboard, cried he
Ye leear, quo she, maun I droun
A man on a board an' a wife on a gate
It’s auld Mistress Mackintosh here wi' a skate
An' a lum hat wantin' a croun, Ahoun
A lum hat wantin' a croun

7.
Wis she nippit tae deeth at the Pole
Has India bakit her broun
I dinna ken whit, but I'll wager her fate
Wis shared wi a hake an' a great muckle skate
An' a lum hat wantin' a croun, Ahoun
A lum hat wantin' a croun

8.
There's a moral attached tae ma song
On greed ye should aye gie a froon
When ye think o' ma wife that wis lost for a gate
An a fish was taken, a muckle great skate
An' a lum hat wantin' a croun, Ahoun
A lum hat wantin' a croun


POEM by David Rorie M.D.
at,
http://www.electricscotland.com/lifestyle/weekend8-13.htm