“Hap and Row”

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1964 (Montgomerie)
Keywords: baby clothes food
Found in: Britain(Scotland)

Description

"Hap and row, hap and row, Hap and row the feetie o't; I never knew I had a bairn Until I heard the greetie o't." Life with the baby is described: A cinder from the cooking fire burns its feet; Sandy's mother wraps them in her cap

Notes

This is presumably the original which Burns converted into "The Reel of Stumpie." I suspect there are cross-fertilized versions, so some care should be taken in looking at each. - RBW

References

  1. Montgomerie-ScottishNR 157, "(Hap and row, hap and row)" (1 text)
  2. Roud #7252
  3. BI, MSNR157
The Traditional Ballad Index is copyright ©2008 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. The Digital Tradition is copyright The Mudcat Cafe.