The Pear Tree

1. Oh there were twa lads belanged tae this nation
Dundee bein' their place an' station,
Went oot ae nicht as I were told                |one night
Just tae hae a fun-like stroll.

Refrain: Wi a hi tum a taw tum a tum a like a daisy
         Tum a like a daisy wi a tum a lum a lay

2. For noo on the road they spied a pear tree,
There grew pears as fine as could be,
So for a pear they were inclined,
So up the pear tree they did climb. (refrain)

3. For up the pear tree they were landed,
Up the pear tree they were stranded,
It wisna the pears that taen ma ee,           |took my eye
'Twas the lad an' the lass lyin in alow the tree. (refrain)  |below

4. So this young man he began tae unlace her,
This young man began tae embrace her,
Ta'en aff his coat tae save her goun,          |off / gown
When a' the pears cam a-rummlin' doon. (refrain)

5. So this young man looked up in wonder,
As we battered doon the pears like thunder,
So he got up an' awa did flee,
Leavin his coat lyin in alow the tree. (refrain)

6. So the owner of the coat we did enquire,
The owner of the coat wis our desire,
The owner of the coat we never found out,
So we had a damn guid coat for nowt. (refrain)    |nothing

7. Noo a' ye lads whaur e'er ye may be,
Dinna gang coortin' alow a pear tree,     |don't go courting
For if ye do ye'll spoil the fun,
When a' the pears cam a-rummlin' doon.

Refrain: Wi a hi tum a taw tum a tum a like a daisy
         Tum a like a daisy wi a tum a lum a lay
===================================================
As sung by Dave Marshall of Methven. Collected by Peter Shepheard (from
'Songs and Ballads of Dundee', Nigel Gatherer, Edinburgh 1986).

This version was published in the programme/songbook of the 1968
Blairgowrie Festival , at which Dave Marshall was a guest. Dave had
learned it twenty years earlier from a lad who stayed on the bothy at
Westhaven.