Chorus:
Tail todle, tail todle;
Tammie gart my tail todle; (some say "gars" instead of "gart")
At my ae wi' diddle doddle, (or: But an' ben we diddle-doddle)
Tammie gart my tail todle.
Tail todle, tail todle;
Tammie gart my tail todle;
At my ae wi' diddle doddle,
Tammie gart my tail todle.
Our gudewife held o'er to Fife,
For tae buy a coal-riddle;
Lang or she cam back again,
Tammie gart my tail todle.
Chorus.
2. When I'm deid I'm out o' date;
When I'm seik I'm fu' o' trouble;
When I'm weel I stap about,
An' Tammie gars my tail todle.
Chorus:
3. Jenny Jack she gae a plack, (or: gae'd)
Helen Wallace gae a boddle; (or: bottle)
Quo' the bride, "Its o'er little
For tae mend a broken doddle." (or: dottle)
Chorus: