Traditional & Folk Songs with lyrics & midi music www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
We're Gayly Yet 
We're Gayly Yet 
[Chorus 1st, to first part of tune] 
We're gayly yet, and we're gayly yet And we's not very fow but we're gayly yet, Then sit ye a while and tipple a bit For we's not very fow but we're gayly yet 
There was a Lad and they cau'd him Dickey He ga' me a Kiss and I bit his Lippy Then under my Apron he shaw'd me a Trick And we's no very fow but we're gayly yet
 And we're gayly yet etc. 
There were three Lads and they were clad There were three Lasses and them they had Three Tree in the Orchard are newly sprung And we's a git geer enough we're but young
 And we're gayly yet etc.. 
[to 2nd part of tune] 
Then up went Ailey Ailey up went Ailey now Then up with Aily Quo Crumma, we's a get Roaring fow And one kiss'd in the Barn, another was kiss'd on the Green, And t'other behind the Pease Stack, 'till the Mow flew up to her
 Ey'en. Then up went Ailey, etc.. 
Now fye John Thompson run Gin ever ye run in your life De'el gat ye but hye my dear Jack There's a Mon got to Bed with your Wife
 Then up went Ailey etc.. 
Then away John Thompson run And Agad he ran with Speed But before he had run his length The false Loon had done the deed
 Then up went Ailey etc.. 
End with the first Verse [to 1st part of tune] 
 This is from a single sheet song with music, c 1745, in the Library of Congress. We don't know exactly when or where James ('Jack') Beard sang the song. The song was later printed in several books, mostly without the tune, but with it in <<The Musical Miscellany>>, p. 288, Perth, 1786, and <<Calliope, or The Vocal Enchantress>>, p. 466-7, London and Edinburgh, 1788. The tune also appeared in a few country dance music collections. The tune is a version of "Up with Aley, etc.," in <<A Choice Collection of 180 Loyal Songs>>, 3rd edit., p. 117, 1685. The song is obviously two short songs strung together, and there is perhaps some early evidence for one of them. The cuckolding of John Thompson mentioned is the second part seems to have been known in 1694. A manuscript of about 1715, NLS MS Adv. 23.3.24, contains an epitaph mentioning his cuckold's horns: 
Ane Satyrick Epitaph to Daniel Nicolson who was hang'd for makeing use of a forgerd paper And for adultrie with Mistress Pringle on the 14 febr 1694. Mistress Pringle being beheaded the same day in the Grassmarket. 
The Lords of Justice by a Trick Have Lately hang'd the ablest prick
 Was ever born Had he been Left alive they fear'd That others heads he might have rear'd
 John Thomsons horn Now Pluto tye thy garters fast Else thou most wear the horns at last
 If Daniel mingle With Proserpine And Let her know But half the vigour he did show
 To Mistress Pringle WBO 
Sung by Mr. Beard WBO Apr98