For as I gaed doon the Overgate I met a bonny wee lass
For she winked tae me with the tail o’ her e’e as I went rovin past
Chorus.
Wi my rovin eye faldi diddle di wi my rovin eye dum derry
Wi my rovin eye faldi diddle di wi my rovin eye dum derry
Wi my rovin eye.
I asked her what her name might be, she said: “Jemima Rose
And I live up the toon wi the mistress Broonat the back o the beefcan Close.”
I took her tae another room a wee bit doon the burn
it’s true what Rabbie Burns did say man wis made tae mourn
I asked her what was her landlady’s name, she said it was Mrs. Bruce
And with that she invited me to come awa’ to the hoose
As we went up the windin’ stair, them bein’long and dark
For I slipped my siller frae my inside pooch and I tied it to the tail o’ my
sark
a’ nicht long I dreamed I was lying in the airms o’ Jemima Rose
But when I awoke I was lying on my back at the back o’ the Beefcan Close
Come a’ ye jolly ploo men lads that stay oot after dark
taker yer siller frae your inside pooch and tie it to the tail o’ your sark.