Moggy Lawder
Music File
Lesley Nelson
Information
Lyrics
This air was popular in London at the beginning of the 18th century.** This version of the lyrics appeared in Evan's Old Ballads (1723)*, The Quaker's Opera in 1728 and in John Gay's Achilles in 1733.**

For another version of the lyrics see Maggie Lauder. Variant spellings include Moggy Lawther, Moggy Lauther, Maggie Lawder, Magie Lawder, Maggie Lawder and Maggy Lauder.

The tune is from Songs of Scotland and is not the exact tune from Evan's Old Ballads.

There liv'd a Lass in our Town,
Her name was Moggy Lawder,
And She would fain have plaid the Loon,
But durst not tell her father;
Now She's forgot her Father's fear,
And on the same did venture,
And afterwards as you shall hear
A Lad did oft frequent her.

Now Moggy Lawder on a Day,
A Barber Lad did meet her,
Both Joy and Heart to her did say,
And kindly he did greet her:
My dear let me get thee with Bearn,
And Ise shall be it's Father,
And you'll be Mother of the same,
My bonny Moggy Lawder.

Sweet-heart to him she says indeed,
And so did fall a weeping,
I'm wearied with my Maidenhead
While I have it in keeping:
But if thou'lt true and trusty be,
As I am Moggie Lawder,
Ise then will give it unto thee,
But do not tell my Father.

For if my Father hear he same,
Right fore he will abuse me,
But I think long to try the Game,
Therefore I'll not refuse thee:
But first protest to marry me,
To be my Baby's Father,
And be a Husband unto me,
Bonny Moggy Lawder.

My Dear says he indeed I am,
Unto my Trade a Shaver,
And there is not a living Man,
Can call me a Deceiver;
Yea surely I will marry thee,
And be thy Baby's Father,
And thou shalt be a Wife to me,
My bonny Moggie Lawder.

And then to her he gave a Kiss,
Saying, Dear, how shall I please thee,
Be sure I will do more than this,
And of thy troubles ease thee:
And all along upon her Back,
He laid poor Moggy Lawder,
Gave her a Scope upon her dope,
She durst not tell her Father.

With Kisses and Embraces then,
In Peace and Love they parted,
And did appoint another time,
To meet there loving hearted:
And with a merry Heart's content,
With what the Lad had gave her,
Rejoycing homeward as she went
She sung the jolly Shaver.

But now the Seed that late was sown,
Is become a springing,
And she is melancholly grown,
And has left off her singing:
And often in her Heart could wish,
That she had been a Callder,
For Edinburgh is filled with
The talk of Moggie Lawder.
Related Links
From Songs of Scotland The Royal Edition, Volume I and
**Songs of Scotland (Graham)
See Bibliography for full information.
*And Bruce Olsen's Roots of Folk Website