CXLVII.
Reading edition
THE EXCISEMAN.
Tune—“The Deil cam’ fiddling through the town.”
[Composed and sung by the poet at a festive meeting of the excisemen of the Dumfries district.]
I.
The deil cam’ fiddling through the town, And danced awa wi’ the Exciseman, And ilka wife cries—“Auld Mahoun, I wish you luck o’ the prize, man!” The deil’s awa, the deil’s awa, The deil’s awa wi’ the Exciseman; He’s danc’d awa, he’s danc’d awa, He’s danc’d awa wi’ the Exciseman!
II.
We’ll mak our maut, we’ll brew our drink, We’ll dance, and sing, and rejoice, man; And mony braw thanks to the meikle black deil That danc’d awa wi’ the Exciseman.
III.
There’s threesome reels, there’s foursome reels, There’s hornpipes and strathspeys, man; But the ae best dance e’er cam to the land Was—the deil’s awa wi’ the Exciseman. The deil’s awa, the deil’s awa, The deil’s awa wi’ the Exciseman: He’s danc’d awa, he’s danc’d awa, He’s danc’d awa wi’ the Exciseman.