> Folk Music > Songs > Why Should I?

Why Should I?

[ RoudBS B250204 ; Mudcat 80511 ; trad.]

Mirk sang Why Should I? in 1982 on their Springthyme album Tak a Dram Afore Ye Go. They noted:

One of many songs that warns the lassies against old men. The tune is ancient and is in the Skene manuscript compiled in the early 1600’s where it is titled I Will Not Goe to My Bed Till I Suld Die. The old words being lost, new words were set to the tune for publication in 1851 in Graham’s Songs of Scotland.

Maureen Jelks sang Why Should I? in 2000 on her Tradition Bearers album Eence Upon a Time. She noted:

Another song from the singing of Marjorie Sinclair [of Mirk] telling the story of a young woman being persuaded by her family to marry an old man because he is wealthy. The young woman resists and stands by her younger man, even though he is poor.

Glasgow singer Lainey Dempsey sang Brisk Young Lassie on her 2023 album Letle Telt. She noted:

From The Popular Songs and Melodies of Scotland (1891) by George Farquhar Graham. Lyrics written in 1891 by a friend of GF Graham’s publisher.
Original air from I Will Not Go to My Bed Till I Should Die mentioned in William Dauney’s 1843 edition of the Skene manuscript (pub. circa 1715) ‘slightly’ rearranged by Graham then slightly re-rearranged(!) by Lainey Dempsey (2020)

There is no shortage of traditional compositions about young women resisting or resigning to marrying old men. Many, like Auld Robin Gray are tragic but plenty are full of humour and sedition.

First referenced in Mitchell’s The Gude and Godlie Ballatis (1567) is O, An Ye Were Dead, Guidman where the wife wishes her old husband dead so she can run away with their handsome young farmhand from the Highlands.

Burns contributed What Can a Young Lassie to Johnson’s Scots Musical Museum (1771). A tale of a young woman ‘sold’ by her mother to an old man and culminating in her plotting his demise to claim her widow’s inheritance. Admittedly her plan for her newfound wealth was to buy a new pan. An indicator to my mind that the song was not penned by a woman.

Much printed in the 18^th century and popularised by Jeannie Robertson in the mid to late 20^th century is A Dottered Auld Carle, a relation to There Was An Old Man Came Over The Sea. Both songs describe a young woman being forced to ‘court’ an old man by her mother in pursuit of marriage and prosperity. Robertson’s narrator draws the line at a kiss but fortune is not so kind on the lass from The Old Man From Over The Sea. She remains defiant throughout however, declaring till the end, “I will not have him”.

These are just a few of many and Brisk Young Lassie is part of that canon. Thanks to the air and lyrics combined, it’s a swift little blast of joy and resistance.

The lyrics grabbed me first. Such colourful Scots. All the descriptors for how the old fella moves and behaves highlighting the disdain with which this lively young woman regards her aged suitor. The original lyrics to the brilliantly named I Will Not Go to My Bed Till I Should Die were sadly lost but with a title like that you’ve got to wonder what wonderful things the lass was up to that sleep could never be succumbed to in her lifetime.

Lyrics

Mirk sing Why Should I?

Why should I, a brisk young lassie,
Be forced tae wad a feckless auld man?
Hoastin an hirplin, a lamiter body,
I’ll die far raither than gie him ma han.

Kirk or mercat, aye he follaes me,
Gapin, glowerin, till I fain ban;
Then at oor ingle-neuk ilka day haverin,
I’ll die far raither than gie him ma han.

Aa ma friens are like tae deave me,
’Bout hoose an hame, an siller an land;
Deil tak the siller an land aa thegither.
I’ll die far raither than gie him ma han.

My ain Jo is young and bonnie,
Though he’s poor, he’s aye kind tae me;
I’ll hae nae man but ma ain dearest Johnnie,
An ne’er the auld man, although I should dee.

Lainey Dempsey sings Brisk Young Lassie

Why should I a brisk young lassie,
Be forced tae wed a feckless auld man?
Hoastin and hirplin his lamiter bodie,
I’ll die far rather than gie him ma han’.

My ane kin are like to deave me,
Bout hoose and hame, siller and lan’.
Deil tak yer siller an’ lan’ a’ thegither,
I’ll die far rather than gie him ma han’.

My ain Jo is young an bonnie
And though he’s poor he’s ay true tae me
I’ll take nae man but ma ain darlin’ Johnnie
An’ ne’er the auld man, altho I should die.

Kirk or market aye he follows me,
Gapin glowerin till I’d fain ban.
Then at oor ingleneuk ilka day havrin,
I’ll die far rather than gie him ma han’.

Why should I a brisk young lassie
Be forced tae wed a feckless auld man?
Hoastin and hirplin his lamiter bodie,
I’ll die far rather than gie him ma han’.