My Wife's a Wanton Wee Thing

DESCRIPTION: The singer complained that his wife "winna be guided by me." She had affairs before they married and he is sure she'll do that again. She sold her coat to buy drink. Finally he beat her and she's been "a braw guide bairn" since.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1776 (Herd)
KEYWORDS: infidelity violence drink husband wife clothes
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Greig/Duncan7 1295A, "My Wife's a Wallopin Wee Thing" (1 text, 2 tunes)
Whitelaw-BookOfScottishSong, p. 497, "My Wife's" (1 text)
ADDITIONAL: David Herd, editor, Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads, etc. (Edinburgh, 1870 (reprint of 1776)), Vol II, p. 230, ("My Wife's a Wanton Wee Thing")
James Johnson, Editor, _The Scots Musical Museum_ [1853 edition], volume III, #217, p. 226, "My WIfe's a wanton, wee thing" (1 text, 1 tune)
Robert Chambers, The Scottish Songs (Edinburgh, 1829), Vol II, pp. 334-335, "My Wife's a Wanton Wee Thing"
ST GrD71295 (Full)
Roud #5659
File: GrD71295

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