“Sic a Wife as Willie Had (Willie Wastle)”

Description

"Willie Wastle dwalt on Tweed." I "wadna gie a button" for his wife. "Tinker Maggie was her mither." One eye, few teeth, limping leg, hump on back and breast. Her actions are as crude as her looks. "Sic a wife as Willie had."

Notes

Somewhere in the depths of my memory, there is a vague memory of a children's rhyme about Wullie Wastle, King of the Castle. Whether there is a relationship between that and this I do not know. - RBW

Broadsides

  • Bodleian, Harding B 11(4242), "Willie Wastle," W. Dixon (Workington), n.d.

References

  1. Creighton-Maritime, p. 132, "Sic a Wife As Willie Had" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. DT, WASTLE
  3. Roud #2702
  4. BI, CrMa132

About

Author: Robert Burns
Earliest date: 1792 (Scots Musical Museum)
Keywords: humorous nonballad wife
Found in: Canada(Mar)