1.
In winter when the rain rain’d cauld.
And frost and snaw on ilka hill;
And Boreas wi’ his blasts sae bauld
Was threat’ning a’ our kye to kill.
Then Bell, my wife, wha lo’es na strife,
She said to me right hastily,
’Get up, gudeman, save crummie’s life,
And tak’ your auld cloak about ye.
2.
‘My crummie is a usefu’ cow,
An’ she has come o’ a gude kin’,
Aft has she wet the bairns’ mou’,
And I am laith that she should tyne.
Get up, gudeman, it is fu’ time,
The sun shines in the lift sae hie;
Sloth never made a gracious end,
Gae tak’ your auld cloak about ye.’
3.
‘My cloak was ance a gude grey cloak,
When it was fitting for my wear;
But now ’tis scantly worth a groat,
For I ha’e worn’t this thretty year.
Let’s spend the gear that we ha’e won,
We little ken the day we’ll dee;
Then I’ll be proud, sin’ I ha’e sworn
To ha’e a new cloak about me.’
4.
‘In days when our King Robert rang,
His trews they cost but half-a-croun;
He said they were a groat ower dear,
And ca’d the tailor thief and loon.
He was the king that wore the croun,
And thou’rt a man of laich degree;
’Tis pride puts a’ the country doun,
Sae tak’ thy auld cloak about thee.’
5.
‘Every land has its ain laugh,
Ilk’ kind o’ corn it has its hool;
I think the warld is a’ run wrang,
When ilka wife her man wad rule.
Do ye no see Rob, Jock and Hab,
How they are girded gallantlie;
While I sit hurklin’ i’ the ase?
I’ll ha’e a new cloak about me!’
6.
‘Gudeman, I wat ’tis thretty year
Sin’ we did ane anither ken;
An’ we ha’e had atween us twa
Of lads and bonnie lasses ten;
Now they are women grown and men,
I wish and pray weel may they be;
And if you prove a good husband,
E’en tak’ your auld cloak about ye.’
7.
Bell, my wife, she lo’es na strife,
But she would guide me if she can;
And to maintain an easy life,
I aft maun yield, though I’m gudeman.
Nocht’s to be won at woman’s han’,
Unless you gie her a’ the plea;
Then I’ll leave aff where I began,
And tak’ my auld cloak about me.