Originally written by Tennessee singer-songwriter Mike Cross, in or about 1981. this somewhat bawdy ballad has become a bit of a folk staple, covered by countless folk singers.
Lyrics[]
These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns in their livestreams; the original lyrics can be found here.
Well a Scotsman clad in kilt left a bar one evening fair
And one could tell by the way he walked that he'd drunk more than his share
He fumbled round until he could no longer keep his feet
Then he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
Ring-ding diddle-diddle-addie-oh ring die-diddly I oh-ho!
He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
Around that time two young and lovely girls just happened by
And one says to the other with a twinkle in her eye
"See yon sleeping Scotsman both strong and handsome built
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt!"
Ring-ding diddle-diddle-addie-oh ring die-diddly I oh-ho!
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt!
They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman quiet as could be
And lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see
And there behold, for them to view, beneath his Scottish skirt
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
Ring-ding diddle-diddle-addie-oh ring die-diddly I oh-ho!
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
They marveled for a moment, then one said, "We must be gone
Let's leave a present for our friend, before we move along"
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon, tied into a bow
Around the bonnie star, the Scotsman's kilt did lift and show
Ring-ding diddle-diddle-addie-oh ring die-diddly I oh-ho!
Around the bonnie star, the Scotsman's kilt did lift and show
Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled toward a tree
Behind a bush, he lifts his kilt and gawks at what he sees
And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes
"O lad I don't know where you been, but I see you won first prize!"
Ring-ding diddle-diddle-addie-oh ring die-diddly I oh-ho!
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first prize!
Recordings[]
Gig Videos[]
Full Band Streams[]
- The Longest Johns and Friends, El Pony Pisador! (12 Aug 2018)
- The Longest Johns and Friends, April. w/Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith (30 Apr 2019)
- Singing Live Stream and Special Announcement... (7 Aug 2019)
- Longest Johns LIvestream | Lockdown Lullabies and Rousing Renditions (15 Apr 2020)
- We're Going to Wellermania! | The Longest Johns Full Band Stream (14 Apr 2021)
- Amazing Technicolor Stream-coat!! | The Longest Johns Full Band Stream (7 Jul 2021)