THE CALTON WEAVER

THE CALTON WEAVER
Traditional

I'm a weaver, a Calton weaver,

    I'm a rash and a roving blade;

I've got siller in my poaches,

    I'll gang and follow the roving trade,

O whiskey, whiskey, Nancy whiskey

Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy, O.

As I cam' in by Glesca city,

    Nancy Whiskey I chanced to smell,

So I gaed in, sat doon beside her,

    Seven lang years I lo'ed her well,

O whiskey & c

The mair I kissed her the mair I lo'ed her,

    The mair I kissed her the mair she smiled,

And I forgot my mither's teaching,

    Nancy soon had me beguiled.

I woke up early in the morning,

    To slake my drouth it was my need;

I tried to rise but I wasna able,

    For Nancy had me by the heid.

"C'wa, landlady, whit's the lawin'?

    Tell me whit there is to pay."

"Fifteen shillings is the reckoning,

    Pay me quickly and go away."

As I gaed oot by Glesca city,

    Nancy Whiskey I chanced to smell;

I gaed in drank four and sixpence,

    A't was left was a crooked scale.

I'll gang back to the Calton weaving,

    I'll surely mak' the shuttles fly;

For I'll mak' mair at the Calton weaving

    Than ever I did in a roving way.

Come all ye weavers, Calton weavers,

    A' ye weavers where e'er ye be;

Beware of whiskey, Nancy whiskey,

    She'll ruin you as she ruined me.

Footnote : Don't email in that 'whiskey' in Scotland is spelt 'whisky' - A ken! That's how it is spelled in the words of this song as featured in Ord's 'Bothy Songs and Ballads'. This warning to men, old and young, was a very popular song during the Scottish Folk Revival and still features in the repertoire of many folksingers.