Chorus:

Wi' the rantin' o't and the dauntin' o't,
According as ye ken,
The thing they ca' the rantin' o't,
Lady Errol lies her lane.

"What needs I wash my apron
And hang it on a dyke?
What needs they ca' me Errol's wife
When I gang sae maiden-like?

Chorus

"What needs I wash my petticoat
Or hang it on a pin?
For lang will I gang but-and-ben
Ere I hear the bairnies' din.

Chorus

"What needs I wash my apron
Or dry it upon a door?
What needs I eek my petticoat
Hangs even doon afore."

Chorus

"When I cam' in by yon canal
And by yon bowling-green,
I micht hae pleased the best Carnegie
That ever bore the name.

Chorus

"But as sure as your name is Kate Carnegie
And mine is Gilbert Hay,
I'll gar your faither sell his lands
Your tocher for tae pay."

Chorus

Now Errol's gotten 't at his will
Tae choose a maid himsel',
And he has chosen a country lass
Cam' in her milk tae sell.

Chorus

He kept her locked intae a room
Three quarters o' a year,
And when three quarters ended were,
A braw young son she bare.

Chorus

There wasnae a lord in Edinborough
But tae Peggy gied a ring,
And there wasnae a lad in a' the toon
But on Katie had a sang.

Chorus

"Look up, look up, my pretty Peggy,
Look up and think nae shame;
I'll mak' ye Lady Errol," he said,
"And Kate shall be sent hame."

Chorus

"Tak' hame your dochter, Carnegie," he said,
"And wed her tae a man,
For Errol cannae please her
Nor nane o' a' his men!"