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Jenny Dang the Weaver

[ Roud 2595 ; G/D 4:911 ; Ballad Index GrD4911 ; Sir Alexander Boswell]

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Jock Tamson’s Bairns sang Jenny Dang the Weaver in 1980 on their eponymous first album, Jock Tamson’s Bairns. They noted:

The words of this song are attributed to Sir Alexander Boswell, the eldest son of Dr Johnson’s biographer. It appears in The Popular Songs and Melodies of Scotland, published in 1884 by J. Muir Wood & Co., Glasgow.

Lyrics

Jock Tamson’s Bairns sing Jenny Dang the Weaver

At Willie’s wedding on the green,
The lassies, bonnie witches,
Were a’ dress’d out in aprons clean,
And braw white Sunday mutches:
Auld Maggie bade the lads tak’ tent.
But Jock would not believe her;
But soon the fool his folly kent,
For Jenny dang the weaver.

And Jenny dang, Jenny dang,
Jenny dang the weaver;
But soon the fool his folly kent.
For Jenny dang the weaver.

At ilka country dance or reel,
Wi’ her he would be bobbin’;
When she sat down—he sat down,
And to her would be gabbtn’
Where’er she gaed, baith butt and ben,
The cool would never leave her;
Aye kecklin’ like a clockin’ hen,
But Jenny dang the weaver.

And Jenny dang, Jenny dang,
Jenny dang the weaver;
Aye kecklin’ like a clockin’ hen,
But Jenny dang the weaver.

Quo’ he My lass, to speak my mind,
In troth I needna swither;
You’ve bonnie een, and if you’re kind,
I’ll never seek anither;
He humm’d and haw’d, the lass cried, Peugh!
And bade the coof no deave her;
Syne snapt her fingers, lap and leugh,
And dang the silly weaver.

And Jenny dang, Jenny dang,
Jenny dang the weaver;
Syne snapt her fingers, lap and leugh,
And dang the silly weaver.