The poem
THERE was a wife wonn’d in Cockpen, Scroggam; She brew’d gude ale for gentlemen; Sing auld Cowl lay ye down by me, Scroggam, my dearie, ruffum.
The gudewife’s dochter fell in a fever, Scroggam; The priest o’ the parish he fell in anither; Sing auld Cowl lay ye down by me, Scroggam, my dearie, ruffum.
They laid the twa i’ the bed thegither, Scroggam; That the heat o’ the tane might cool the tither; Sing auld Cowl, lay ye down by me, Scroggam, my dearie, ruffum.