What Can a Young Lassie Do Wi' an Auld Man
written in 1792
What Can a Young Lassie Do Wi' an Auld Man - meaning Summary
Youth Trapped with Age
This comic, colloquial song puts a young woman’s complaint at its center: she has been married off to an old, miserly man for money and land and now endures his nagging, dozing, jealousy, and general misery. The speaker mixes exasperation and dark humour as she describes domestic boredom and schemes to torment him until she can seize his savings. Themes are age-disparate marriage, transactional union, female frustration, and practical self-interest delivered in a plain, lively voice that balances complaint with witty resilience.
Read Complete AnalysesWhat can a young lassie, what shall a young lassie, What can a young lassie do wi' an auld man? Bad luck on the pennie, that tempted my Minnie To sell her poor Jenny for siller and lan'! He's always compleenin frae morning to e'enin, He hosts and he hirpls the weary day lang: He's doyl't and he's dozin, his blude it is frozen. O, dreary's the night wi' a crazy auld man! He hums and he hankers, he frets and he cankers, I never can please him do a' that I can; He's peevish, and jealous of a' the young fellows, O, dool on the day I met wi' an auld man! My auld auntie Katie upon me taks pity, I'll do my endeavour to follow her plan; I'll cross him, and wrack him until I heartbreak him, And then his auld brass will buy me a new pan.
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