It fell on a morning, a morning in May My faither's cows they a' went astray I loutit me down and the heather was gay And a burr stack tae my apron Wi' a rye doo a dum, wi' a rye doo a day Wi' a rye doo a dum, wi' a rye doo a day Wi' a rye doo a dum, wi' a rye doo a day A wee bird cam' tae my apron Oh aince my apron it was wide But noo my knees it scarce can hide And oh the grief that I've tae bide When I look tae my apron Oh aince my apron it was new But noo it's gotten another hue But noo it's gotten another hue There's a braw lad below my apron I saw my faither on the stair Combing doon his yellow hair
Says, "What is it that ye've got in there? Sae well rowed aneath yer apron" It's neither vagabond nor loon He's the best stay-maker in the toon And he's made me a stomacher to bear up my goon And I rowed aneath my apron I saw my mother on the stair Combing doon her yellow hair Says, "What is that ye've got in there Sae wee rowed aneath yer apron?" It is my mantle and my shirt I had nae will tae daidle it I had nae will tae daidle it And I rowed it aneath my apron As I was going doon the street My siller slippers on my feet Oh aye my freends I'd ill-well tae meet