She was the Belle O’ The Ball

Transcribed by Jim Dixon from the album "I Belong to Glasgow: Greatest Hits of Will Fyffe" (2011)

I feel a different chap today; the reason is because
A bonnie wee lassie's in love with me an I didnae think she was;
But I went an popped the question and I nearly passed away
When she threw her airms aroond ma neck and named the happy day.

Oh, a nice wee lass, a fine wee lass is bonnie wee Jeannie MacColl.
I gave her my mother's engagement ring and a bonnie wee tartan shawl.
I met her at a weddin in the Co-operative Hall.
Ah was the best man an she was the Belle o the Ball.

Oh, tirra madee madoo maday!

The nicht I popped the question, I was awfy, awfy shy.
The rain was pourin doon but she was happy; so was I.
The pair of us were drookit through as we landed at the stair.
The rain was runnin oot o my breeks but och! I didnae care.

[Patter] 
You know, I’ll never forget the nicht o the Cooperative Ball. What a nicht that was! That’s the nicht that I won her, mind ye. Of course, mind ye, I didn’t get oot o fightin for her. Oh, no fear! I had a rival: wee Jimmy Cunningham, palooka. An durin the dance he tried to be very funny. He purposely bumped into the two of us while we were dancin La Va.* No, wait a minute; it was no la-va; it was Tartanella.** So I asked him to apologize. He says: “Apologize to you, ye wee yella yite?” I said: “What did ye say?” “Oh,” he says, “I could tell ye what you are.” I said: “Could ya? You come outside for a minute an tell me.” So we went oot together. Oh, and I got on champion. I had him nearly half murdered when all of a sudden Jeannie cam rushin oot an she got between the twa o ye and she says: “Come on, noo, laddies; make freens.” Well, of course, I did what any other fella would do under the circumstances: I went straight up to the fella an I hit him another good wallop in the jaw. Actually, I didnae do it, ah, but I knew she was worth fightin for, boys, because—