There lives a man in Rhynie's land, and another in Achindore,
But the bonniest lad among them all was Long Johnny Moore.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Young Johnny was a clever youth, bestardy, stoot and strong,
And the store that hung by Johnny's side Was fully six feet long.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Johnny was a clever youth, bestardy, stoot and wecht,
And he was full three years, he was full three years,
But he put the western fourteen feet in hecht.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
And if I be true that they do say, And if I be true we hear,
Young Johnny's on to fair England, The king's standard to bear.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
He hadn't been in fair London A year but merely three,
When the fairest lady in all London Fell in love with young Johnny.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Words came up and words came down, And words came to the king
That the muckle scot had found in love With doth our lady Jean.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
And if I be true that they do say, And that ye tell to me,
This mechty scot shall stret the rope, And hangy dee shall be.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
But oot it spoke young Johnny, Then them words pronounced he,
Well I hast henth to wield my blade, Ye darner, I hang me.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
But the English lads is cunning rogues, And rune them they did creep,
They give them drums a load to meet, Or he fell fast asleep.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
When Johnny walkin' fae sleep, A sorry man was he,
With his jaws and arms and iron bands, And his feet and feet are three.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Far well I get a bonny boy, Will win beth mate and fee,
And will run on to my uncle, At the fat old bay in a hee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Far well I get a bonny boy, Will win beth mate and fee,
And will run on to my uncle, At the fat old bay in a hee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
It's far you fin the mint-brigs broken, You'll send your bow and swim,
And far you fin the grass growin', You'll slack your sheet and run.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Fanny come on to Benny, Beth neither chop nor caw,
So will you ken old Johnny there, Three fat a-been them are.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
You'll give to him this bright letter, Said we, my faith and truth,
And you'll bid him bring along with him The body Johnny North.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Fat news, fat news, my bonny boy, And neither was here before,
Nay news, nay news, but a bright letter For your nephew Johnny Moore.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Benny he lies very low, And the top o' North stands high,
But for the distance it lies between The hair'd old Johnny cry.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
When on the plain the champions met Was grizzly Gestusea,
There was three feet between Their brows and their shoulders
Bread years three.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
This man there on o'er hill and dale Sent over mountains high,
Till they arrived in fair England At the dyin' o' the day.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
When they arrived at fair London The yats were low cat n,
And far was there but a trumpet, There were trumpet in his hand.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
What's the matter, old Johnny says, Oh, what's the matter with then
That the drums do beat and the bells do ring And makes a good old fit den?
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Nothing's the matter, the keeper said, Nothing's the matter to thee,
But a maxty Scot to strut the rope And to mar a heme and tea.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Open the yats, old Johnny said, Open the yats, I say,
The trembling keeper smiling said, But I hay not got the key.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Open the yats, old Johnny said, Open the yats, I say,
For there's a body at my back, The Scotland's brought the key.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Open the yats, old Joe, go north, Open them at my call,
And wee his fat, hee his dung, And three year breathes o'er the wall.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Saint they are doon through fair London, And doon by the town hall,
And there they saw young Johnny Moore Stand on the English wall.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
You're welcome here, my uncle dear, You're welcome here to me.
You'll louse the knot and slack the rope, And tack nae fee for the tree.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Oh, is't for murder or for theft, Or is't for robbery,
If it be for any o' these crimes, There's nae remede for thee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
It's nae for murder nor for theft, Nor yet for robbery.
It's ha for loving a fair lady, Their gaunt a garm a dee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Bring back his swords, Joke o' North, And freely to him gie.
I sworn a braid, Scourge o' Thalgar five million dee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
And far's the lady's a joke, O' North's fiends, I would her see.
She's locked up in her inn-chamber, The king, he keeps the key.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
So they again for the king, With courage bold and free,
Their armour brecht, cassock all lecht, It all must blint his ee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Far's the lady's a joke, O' North's fiends, I would her see.
For I has sworn a solemn oath, She's gaunt a ben a hee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
O'tack the lady the king, he says, You're welcome to her for me.
For I never thought you hid, Sick men for the bat o' ben a hee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
If I had gants a joke, O' North, You'd win her some a glint me.
I would a brecht you bigger men, Besize's three times three.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
But we be tight, that little wee boy, That tidings brecht to me.
Let all England take what they will, It's hungy the hee shall be.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
O'tack the lady the king, he said, You're welcome to her for me.
O'tack the lady the king, he said, And the boy he shall go free.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
A priest, a priest, young Johnny, Cried to join my lovin' me.
A clerk, a clerk, the king, he cried, To seal her door, her wee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
But oot it spoke old Johnny, Then this words pronounced hee.
O' hee is London rent, and you can heel, Seek no good for thee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
It's hee has London rent, and you, He has thirty blows, and three.
Likewise fares here to my estate, At the vet, O' ben a hee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
Hee o' nae masons a joke o' north, Or o' nae at your call.
Hee o' nae masons in this place, To build up your broken wall.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
I've plenty masons in this place, I've plenty at my call.
But hee me gang for fence ye come, Never mind my broken wall.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.
They've teened the lady by the hand, Or set her prison free.
We drums meet in, and face play, And they're on to ben a hee.
Harried la, nilled a noddy, Harried la, nilled a knee.