Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

JOHN TOD, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: He's a terrible man, john tod, john tod
Last Line: If e'er he sud leave us, john tod.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lady Nairne; Oliphant, Carolina; Nairne, Baroness
Subject(s): Disdain; Evil; Scorn


He's a terrible man, John Tod, John Tod,
He's a terrible man, John Tod;
He scolds in the house,
He scolds at the door,
He scolds on the vera hie road, John Tod,
He scolds on the vera hie road.

The weans a' fear John Tod, John Tod,
The weans a' fear John Tod;
When he's passing by,
The mithers will cry,—
Here's an ill wean, John Tod, John Tod,
Here's an ill wean, John Tod.

The callants a' fear John Tod, John Tod,
The callants a' fear John Tod;
If they steal but a neep,
The callant he'll whip,
And it's unco weel done o' John Tod, John Tod,
It's unco weel done o' John Tod.

An' saw ye nae wee John Tod, John Tod?
Oh, saw ye nae wee John Tod?
His bannet was blue,
His shoon maistly new,
An' weel does he keep the kirk road, John Tod,
Oh, weel does he keep the kirk road.

How is he fendin', John Tod, John Tod?
How is he wendin', John Tod?
He's scourin' the land,
Wi' his rung in his hand,
An' the French wadna frighten John Tod, John Tod,
An' the French wadna frighten John Tod.

Ye're sun-brunt and batter'd, John Tod, John Tod
Ye're tautit and tatter'd, John Tod;
Wi' your auld strippit coul,
Ye look maist like a fule,
But there's nouse i' the lining, John Tod, John Tod,
But there's nouse i' the lining, John Tod.

He's weel respeckit, John Tod, John Tod,
He's weel respeckit, John Tod;
He's a terrible man,
But we'd a' gae wrang
If e'er he sud leave us, John Tod, John Tod,
If e'er he sud leave us, John Tod.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net