Elsie Marley's grown so fine, She won't get up to feed the swine, But lies in bed 'till eight or nine! And surely she does take her time. The name Elsie Marley in the above nursery rhyme was changed from Eppie Marly which was used in the original nursery rhyme. The first part of the rhyme was also discarded but Scottish highlanders understood the hidden meaning behind innocent 'Elsie Marley'. The words to the original rhyme are as follows: Eppie Marly Saw ye Eppie Marly, honey, The woman that sells the barley, honey? She's lost her pocket and a' her money, Wi' following Jacobite Charlie, honey.
Eppie Marly's turned sae fine, She'll no gang out to herd the swine, But lies in her bed till eight or nine, And winna come down the stairs to dine. |