MAGGIE LAUDER

MAGGIE LAUDER
attributed Francis Sempill

Wha wadna be in love wi' bonnie Maggie Lauder ?

A piper met her gaun to Fife,

An' speir'd what was't they ca'd her,

Richt scornfully she answered him,

"Begone ye hallan shaker,

Jog on your gait.

Ye blatherskite,

My name is Maggie Lauder!"

"Maggie," quo' he, "and by my bags,

I'm fidgin' fain to see thee ;

Sit down by me, my bonnie bird,

In troth I winna steer thee.

For I'm a piper to my trade,

My name is Rob the Ranter ;

The lasses loup as they were daft

Whan I blaw up my chanter.

"Piper," quo' Meg, "ha'e you your bags ?

Or is your drone in order ?

If ye be Rob, I've heard o' you,

Live you upon the border ?

The lasses a', baith far and near,

Ha'e heard o' Rob the Ranter ;

I'll shake my foot wi' richt guid will,

Gif you'll blaw up your chanter."

Then to his bags he flew wi' speed,

About the drone he twistet ;

Meg up and wallop'd o'er the green,

For brawly could she frisk it.

"Weel done," quo' he - "play up," quo' she,

"Weel bobb'd," quo' Rob the Ranter ;

"'Tis worth my while to play indeed,

When I ha'e sic a dancer."

"Weel ha'e you play'd your part," quo' Meg,

"Your cheeks are like the crimson ;

There's nane in Scotland plays sae weel,

Since we lost Habbie Simpson.

I've liv'd in Fife, baith maid and wife,

These ten years and a quarter ;

Gin ye should come to Anster fair,

Spier ye for Maggie Lauder."

Footnote : Francis Sempill was the third of the Sempills, Lairds of Beltrees in Renfrewshire, to achieve fame as a humorist. His grandfather was Sir James Sempill, author of the 16th century satire 'Packman's Paternoster' ; his father Robert wrote the well-known elegy on Habbie Simpson, 'The Piper of Kilbarchan', which helped to give Scotland and Robert Burns the famous 'Habbie Simpson stanza'. In addition to 'Maggie Lauder', Francis Sempill has had attributed to him, the boistrous song 'The Blythsome Bridal'. Both songs were claimed as by Francis Sempill by his grandchildren. Whoever wrote 'Maggie Lauder', it is a fell braw sang.