(Trad - Child #281)
(Version 1)
Ricky doo dum day, doo dum day
Ricky dicky doo dum day
A fair maid she went up the street
Some white fish for to buy
An' a bonnie clerk's fell in love wi' her
An' he's followed her by an' by
Oh where live you my bonnie lass
I pray you tell me true
An' though the nicht be e'er sae dark
I will come an' visit you
Ma faither locks the door at nicht
Ma mither keeps the key
An' though ye were nae such a rovin' blade
Ye canna win in tae me
But the clerk he had a young brither
An' a wily wight was he
And he has made a lang ladder
Wi' thirty steps an' three
He's made a cleek bit and a creel
And the creel's put on a pin
(creel - wickerwork basket)
An' he's awa' tae the chimney top
An' he's letten the bonnie clerk in
Noo the auld wife couldnae sleep that nicht
Though late, late was the hoor
I'll lay ma life, Says the silly auld wife
There's a man in oor dochter's boo'er
(silly - simple; bower - bedroom)
Rise up, rise up, my guidman
And see if this be true
If you're wantin' risin', rise yersel'
I wish the auld chiel had you
(auld chiel - devil)
Then up she rose and doon she goes
And into the creel she flew
An' the clerk's brither at the chimney top
He foond that the creel was fu'
He's hauled her up, he's hauled her doon
He's gi'en her a richt doon fa'
Till every rib in the auld wife's side
Played nick nack on the wa'
Oh help me noo my auld guidman
Oh help me noo ma doo
For him that you wished me wi' this nicht
I think he's gotten me noo
Gin auld nick has catched ye noo
I wish he haud ye fest
For atween you and your ae dochter
I never get ony rest
(as sung by Cilla Fisher & Artie Trezise)
The Keach (Keech) in the Creel
(Version 2)
With my too-ri-ah fol-a-diddle-dah
My too-ri-ah ri-fol-a-diddle-dan-too-ni-doh
As I roved out on a moonlit night, excitement for to find
I met on the way with a pretty little girl and I asked her to be mine
How can I get to your father's house, how can I get to your bed
My father locks the door at night, and the keys lie under his head
The keys lie under his head
If you get a ladder thirty foot, thirty foot and three
And place it up to the chimney top, come down in the creel to me
So I got me a ladder thirty foot, thirty foot and three
And placed it up to the chimney top, and down in the creel came me
Down in the creel came me
But the old one, she'd been still awake, when something that was said
I'll lay me life, said the silly old wife, there's a man in my daughter's bed
The old man he got out of bed to see if it was true
But she pushed me down with her lily-white arms and under the coverlet blue
Under the coverlet blue
Where are you going, father dear, where are you going so late
You disturbed me of my evening prayers and oh, but they were sweet
The devil take you, silly old wife, and an ill death may you die
For your daughter's lying with a book in her arms, praying for you and I
She's praying for you and I
But the old one, she is still awake, when something else was said
You can say what you want, you silly old fool, there's a man in my daughter's bed
No rest, no peace could the old one get till she got up to see
But her foot gave a shot to the chamber pot, and into the creel fell she
Into the creel fell she
Rise up, rise up and help me, husband dear, rise up and help me now
For the one that you have wished me to, I fear he's got me now
What I hope he's got, I hope he keeps and never lets it go
For between yourself and your daughter dear it's time for the cock to crow
It's time for the cock to crow
(as sung by Rossavielle, to a different tune)