Willy's Weddin'
Poem By Alexander Laing
Willy's Weddin' is a poem by the Scottish poet Alexander Laing (1787-1857). It appeared in his collection Wayside Flowers, first published in 1846.The poem names several dances, including "the reel o' Delvinside", "the rant o' Tullibardine", "the jig o' Ballangeich" and "the bob o' Fettercairn".
Laing added two notes to the final verse. He explained that the "come-agen" was the name given to the custom of a man kissing his partner at the end of a dance or reel.
For "the throwin' o' the stockin'", Laing quoted Allan Ramsay's description of a wedding custom in which the bride's or bridegroom's stocking was thrown as the couple went to bed. The person on whom it landed was expected to be the next member of the company to marry.
Related Scottish Country Dances
The Bob Of FettercairnWilly's Weddin'
Busk, an' let's to Willy's weddin';
Ye canna think to bide at hame,
When we were a' sae frankly bidden.
Fouth an' scouth will baith be there,
To mak' a blythe an' merry meetin'
Wi' hands sae fa', an' heart sae free,
O Willy's worth the wife he's gettin'.
Busk ye, lasses, i' your best,
Mak' ye a' fu' trig an' tidy;
Haud for ance your fingers gaun,
It's time an' mair that ye were ready.
Bridal days for nane will bide!
Haste ye, lasses! are ye comin'?
I think I see the dance begun,
I think I hear the fiddles bummin'.
Hey! the reel o' Delvinside,
Hey! the rant o' Tullibardine,
Hey! the jig o' Ballangeich,
Hey! the bob o' Fettercairn;
Hey! the kindly come-agen,
Hey! the jamphin' an' the jokin',
Hey! the beddin' o' the bride,
An' hey! the throwin' o' the stockin'.
The Online Scots Dictionary Translate Scots To English.
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Text from Wayside Flowers by Alexander Laing at the National Library of Scotland.
Text from 1846 edition of Wayside Flowers digitised by Google Books.