Info
Other titles – Bab at the Bowster, Babity Bowster, Bee Baw Babbity, Roud 8722
Lyrics
(Scottish folk song)
Bee-ba-babity,
Babity, babity,
Bee-ba-babity,
Bab at the Bowster brawly.
Kneel down kiss (touch) the ground,
Kiss (Touch) the ground, kiss (touch) the ground,
Kneel down kiss (touch) the ground*,
Kiss (Swing) a bonny wee* lassie (laddie).
I wouldna ha’e a lassie, oh. (laddie)
A lassie (laddie), oh, a lassie (laddie), oh,
I wouldna ha’e a lassie (laddie), oh,
I’d rather ha’e a wee lassie (laddie).
Dance (Traditional)
Formation: Students stand in a circle with hands joined. One student (“It”) stands in the middle.
Measures 1-8 – Students walk around in a circle.
Measures 9-24 – Students stand still. “It” leans down and spreads a handkerchief on the floor in front of one student. Both students kneel on the handkerchief and kiss (or swing).*
Game continues with new student becoming “It.”
*My adapted version below
See also
- Country: Scotland
- Melody: dominant triad
- Meter: 6/8
- Source: Kerr’s Guild of Play, 1912
- Song with chords (PDF)
- MIDI file
- Listen to the song
