O hoireann o, who will hav fun with me?
Who will flirt with me, who will be nice to me?
Who will, unless the young men will?
One day, I took off into the mountain moors
I came across a nice young lass
I went over and got her to talk with me
And I asked her what her surname was
She said, " I'm a Chisholm"
And I told her that that was my clan
She said to me, "I'll have noting to do with you;
I prefer MacLeans
And a MacDonald will be coming to see me."
From Mary Morrison (Barra), School of Scottish Studies archive recording; Hebridean Folk
Songs, Vol. III, Waulking songs from Vatersay, Barra, Souith Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula.
After the vigourous process of waulking tweed, young girls would often tease each other
Through
Impromptu 'clapping songs', in which the lead singer would hint of the love interests of
Wome of
The other girls.