THERE was a bridal in this town,
⁠And till't the laſſes a' was houn',
With mankie facings on their gown,
⁠And ſome of them had breaſt-knots.

⁠O the bonny, O the bonny,
⁠O the bonny breaſt-knots,
⁠Tight and bonny were they a'
⁠When they got on their breaſt-knots.

And there was mony luſty lad,
As ever handled grape and gaud,
I wat their manhood well they ſhaw'd,
⁠At ruffling of the breaſt-knot. O, &c.

At nine o'clock they did conveen,
Some clad in blue, ſome clad in green,
Wi' glancing buckles in their ſheen,
⁠And flowers upon their waiſtcoat. O, &c.

The bride by this time was right fain,
When that ſhe ſaw fae light a train,
She pray'd the day might keep frae rain.
⁠For Spoiling of their breaſt-knots. O, &c.

Forth came the wives a' wi' a phraſe,
and wiſh'd the laſſie happy days,
And muckle made they of her claiths,
⁠And ſpecially the breaſt-knot, O, &c.

​Forth ſpake her mither, fan ſhe ſaw,
The bride and maidens a' fae bra',
Wi' cackling clouts, black be their fa',
⁠They made a bonny feaſt o't. O, &c.

Next down their breakfaſt it was ſet,
Some barley kippies of milk meat,
It leiped them it was fae bet.
⁠As ſoon as they did taſte o't. O, &c.

Till ſome frae them their ſpoon they threw,
And ſwore that they had burnt their mu',
And ſome into their cutty blew,
⁠I wat their will they miſt not. O, &c.

When ilka ane had claw'd his plate,
The piper lad he looked blate,
Altho' they ſaid that he ſhould eat,
⁠I trow he loſt the beſt o't. O, &c.

Syne forth they got a' wi'a loup,
O'er creels and deals and a' did coup,
The piper ſaid, Wi' them d—l ſcoup,
⁠He'd made a hungry feaſt o't. O, &c.

Syne off they got a' wi' fling,
Each laſs unto her lad did hing,
And a' cry'd for a different ſpring,
⁠The bride ſhe fought the breaſt-knot. &c.

Fan they ty'd up the marriage band,
At the bridegroon's they neiſt did land,
Forth came auld Madge wi' her ſplit maund,
⁠And bread and cheeſe a hiſt o't. O, &c.

​She took a quarter and a third,
On the bride's head he gea't a gird,
Till farls flew athort the card,
⁠and parted round the reſt o't. O, &c.

The laſs that by the hand he took,
Twice, thrice they led her round the crook,
Same ſaid, "Goodwife, well mat ye brook,
⁠And ſome great count they caſt not. &c.

All ran to kilns and barns in ranks,
Some ſat on deals, and ſome on planks,
The piper lad ſtood on his ſhanks,
⁠And dirled up the breaſt-knot. O, &c.

When bride and bridegroom went to bed,
They with a towel ty'd up his head;
And he that loved the couple beſt,
⁠He wiſhed the bride the ratton's reſt. &c.

Our groom he was ſo keen and ſtout,
That he dang the bed bottom out.
The reſt at that they gave a ſhout,
⁠At ruflling of the breaſt-knot. O. &c.

Altho' our bride had nought to ſpare,
I trow ſome maids they got a ſhare,
A wedding night juſt like a fair,
⁠at ruffling of the breaſt-knot. O, &c.

O! how they a' did kiſs and ſmack,
Some maidenheads they got a crack,
I trow our young men were not ſlack,
⁠At ruffling of the breaſt-knot. O, &c.

​Eight laſſes at the wedding was,
That all for maidens they did paſs,
But ſome I trow they ſup the ſauce,
⁠At ruffling of the breaſt-knot. O, &c.

Their modeſty did them beguile.
For five of eight was got with child,
I think our maids is all run wild,
⁠At dancing of the breaſt-knot O, &c.