6
The captive man that lived in Beith;
The daft auld fool that was in Beith
The auld man that liv‘d in Beith,
He ne er got leave to marry,
Ye youngsters a' that hear my sang
Gif e’er ye marry do t ere lang,
For time and care will ding ye wrang,
An' ye'll grow stiff and sairy-
Just like the auld black man in Beith
The doitet worn out man o‘ Beith,
The single man that liv d in Beith,
Wha couldna maun to marry.
Ye're just as daft's the man o Beith,
Your staunch auld friend that liv’d in Beith:
Ye'll perish like the man o' Beith,
Wha dee't ere he could marry.
When ye are auld, gin ye he poor,
Your kin will drive you frae their door:
Gin ye be rich they'll use you waur,
They ll never let you marry.
This fate befel the mon of Beith,
The poor rich man that liv‘d iu Beith,
A warning to the folk o’ Beith,
To gang in time and marry.