Keech in the Creel



A fair young maid went up the street

Some white fish for to buy

And a bonnie clerk's fallen in love with her

And he's followed her by and by



Rickity too dum da

Too dum da

Rickity too dum da



O where live you my bonny lass

I pray you tell me true

And though the night be ne'er so dark

I will come and visit you



My father locks the door at night

My mother keeps the key

And though you were ne'er such a roving blade

You canna win in to me



But the clerk he had a young brother

And a wily wight was he

And he has made a long ladder

With thirty steps and three.



He has made a cleek but and a creel

And the creel he's put on a pin

And he's away to the chimbley top

And he's letten the bonny clerk in



Now the old wife couldna sleep that night

Though late late was the hour

I'll lay my life, says the silly old wife

There's a man in our daughter's bower



The old man he got out of bed

To see if the thing was true

But she's taken the bonny clerk in her arms

And covered him with the blue



O what are you doing my daughter dear

What are you doing my doo?

I'm praying on my prayer book

For my silly old mammy and you.



Pray on pray on my ae daughter

And see that you do it right

For if ever a woman went out of her reason

Your mother'll go this night



The de'il take you you silly old wife

An ill death may you die

She has the good book in her arms

And she's praying for you and me

Š

The old wife still lay waking yet

Then something more was said

I'll lay my life says the silly old wife

There's a man in our daughter's bed



Rise up again my old goodman

And see if this be true

If you're wanting rising, rise yourself

For I wish the old chiel had you



Then up she rose and down she goes

And into the creel she flew

And the clerk's brother at the chimbley top

He found the creel was fu'



He's hauled her up he's hauled her down

He's gi'en her a right down-fall

Till every rib in the old wife's side

Played nick-nack on the wall



O help me now my old goodman

O help me now my doo

For him that you wished me with this night

I think he's gotten me now



Gin Old Nick has catched you now

I wish he may hold you fast

For atween you and your ae daughter

I never get any rest



O hey the blue the bonny blue

And I wish it may do well

And every old wife that wakes at night

I wish her a keach in a creel



Child #281

@seduction

From Seeds of Love, Sedley.

Note: the story dates back to European folk tales of the 14th

century.

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