Todlen butt, and Todlen ben, p.167.

[Tea-Table Miscellany Contents]

WHen I’ve a saxpence under my thumb, 

Then I get credit in ilka town: 

But ay when I’m poor they bid me gang by; 

O! poverty parts good company. 

Todlen hame, todlen hame

Coudna my love come todlen hame

– 

Fair-fa’ the goodwife, and send her good sale, 

She gi’es us white bannocks to drink her ale, 

Syne if that her tippony chance to be sma’, 

We’ll tak a good scour o’t, and ca’t awa’. 

Todlen hame, todlen hame

As round as a neep come todlen hame

– 

My kimmer and I lay down to sleep, 

And twa pint-stoups at our bed’s feet; 

And ay when we waken’d, we drank them dry: 

What think ye of my wee kimmer and I? 

Todlen butt, and todlen ben

Sae round as my loove comes todlen hame

– 

Leez me on liquor, my todlen dow, 

Ye’re ay sae good humour’d when weeting your mou; 

When sober sae sour, ye’ll fight with a flee, 

That ‘tis a blyth fight to the bairns and me. 

When todlen hame, todlen hame

When round as a neep ye come todlen hame

Old Songs

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