Broadside ballad entitled 'Life and Death of the Piper of Kilbarchan [Habbie Simpson]'

Transcription

LIFE and DEATH

OF THE

piper of kilbarchan

O R,

The Epitaph of Habbie Simpson,                     Who on his Dron bore bonny Flags,
He made His Cheeks as red as Crimson,            And babed when he blew the Bags,

Kilbarchan now may say alas !                  Now all such pastime's quite away
For she hath lost her game & gracs              Sen Habbie's dead,
Both Trixie and the Maiden-trace

But what remeed ?                                            He counted was a wall'd wight Man,

For no Man can supply his place,                      And fiercely at,Foot-ball he ran ;
Hab Simphon's dead,                                      At every Game the gree he wan,
                                                 For pith and speed

Now who shall play the day it daws.                    The like of Habbie was not then,
Or hunts up when the Cock he craws                     But now   he's dead,
Or who can for our Kirk Town Cause,
stand us in stead?                                          And then beside his valiant Acts.

On Bag-pipes now no body blaws,.                     At Brydels he wan many placks.
Sen Habbie's dead,                                          He babbed ay behind Folks backs,
                                              And shook his Head,

Or who shall cause our Shearers shear                 Now we want many merry Cracks
Who will bend up the Brags of Weit?                     Sen Habbie's dead.
Bring in the Bells or good play Meir,
In time of need.                                            He was convoyer of the bride,
Hab Simpson could what needs you spear      With Kittock hanging at his side,
But now he's dead.                                      About the Kirk he thought a pride
                                        the Ring to Lead

So kindly to his Neighbour neist,                          But now she may go but a Guide               
At Beltan and Saint Barchans Feast.                  For Habbie's dead.                     
He blew and then held up his Breast,                           
as he were weid,                  '                           So well's he keeped his Decorum;         
But now we need hot him arest ?                           And all the steps of Whip-meg Whip-meg morum,
For Habbie's dead.                                      He slew a man and waes me for him               
                                               And bare the feed.

At Fairs he playd before the Spear-men                  But yet the man wan Hame before him         
All gayly graithed in their Geer- men,                       and was not dead,
steel Bonnets, Jacts and Swords so cleat
Like any Bead.                                      (then       Ay when he play'd the Lasses leugh,                  
Now who will play before such Weirmen .        To see him toothless, old and reuch         
Sen Habbie's dead,                                       He wan his Pipes beside Barcleugh               
                                        withoutten dread,   

At Clark playes when he wont to come            which after wan him Geat enough                           
His Pipe play'd   trimly to the Drum:                     But now he's dead.
Like Bikes of bees he gatt it bum                  
And turn his Reed                                 Alas for him my heart is sare,   
Now all our Pipars my sing dum                     For of his Springs I got a Share,                  
Sen Habbie's dead,                                At every play, Race, Feast and Fair,

And at Horse-races many a day,                  We need not look for piping mair,
Before the Black, the Brown and Gray                      Sen Habbie's dead,
He gart his Pipe when he did play.                                                                  
Both Skirl and Skried:                                  F I N I S                                                

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