Wee Cooper O'Fife facts for kids

"Wee Cooper O'Fife" is a lively Scottish folk song. It tells the story of a cooper, who is a person who makes wooden barrels. This cooper gets a "braw new wife," which means a beautiful new wife. But she doesn't want to do any housework, like cooking or cleaning. She worries it will "spoil her comely hue," meaning she's afraid it will ruin her good looks! There's also a clever wordplay in the song's name. "Fife" is a region in Scotland, and there's a town there called Cupar, which sounds like "cooper."

Over time, different parts or "verses" have been added to the song. In some versions, the cooper finds a clever way to make his wife change her mind. He might put a sheepskin jacket on her and then pretend to beat the jacket, not her. This trick makes her realize she should help with the chores.

The famous American singer Burl Ives recorded "Wee Cooper O'Fife" on February 11, 1941. It was part of his very first album, called Okeh Presents the Wayfaring Stranger. Other folk singers like Hedy West, Ed McCurdy, and Ian Campbell have also recorded their own versions of this song.

The name "Wee Cooper O'Fife" is also used for a special Scottish country dance. This dance was created by Hugh Foss to fit the song's tune. What's interesting about this tune is that it has ten-bar phrases, which is a bit unusual for a dance tune, as most have eight-bar phrases.

Songs Like "Wee Cooper O'Fife"

Many folk songs share similar stories or themes. "Wee Cooper O'Fife" is one of these. Other songs that tell a similar tale are known by different names. These include "Dan Doo," "The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin," or "Little Old Man Lived Out West." They all often feature a character who tries to avoid work and how they learn to help out.

The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin

"The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin" is an old English folk song, also known as Child ballad 277. In this song, a man marries a woman who comes from a wealthier family than him. Because of her background, she doesn't want to do any of the household chores.

To solve this, the man comes up with a clever plan. He takes a male sheep, skins it, and then wraps his wife in the sheepskin. He then says he can't hit his wife, but he can certainly hit a sheepskin! This trick makes her change her mind, and she starts to help with the work around the house.

Other versions of this story exist. In some, the man doesn't need a special reason or trick to make his wife change her mind.

Dan Doo

Dan Doo is another British folk song that made its way to the United States. Many people have recorded this song over the years. The Wisconsin Folk Song Recording Project recorded a version of it. Folklorist Max Hunter also recorded the song, and his version is now part of the Max Hunter Song Collection at the University of Missouri.

Frank Proffitt recorded "Dan Doo" on his album Frank Proffitt Sings Folk Songs, released by Folkways Records. This song has been published both as a children's ballad and as a folk song for adults. Other singers like Fred Smith and Frank Payne have also recorded their own versions.

The Library of Congress in the United States has a recording of "Dan Doo." This version was sung by Charles Dietz and recorded in Monroe, Wisconsin, by Leland Coon in 1946.

Risseldy Rosseldy

An American version of this type of song is called "Risseldy Rosseldy." This song became famous when it was sung by school children in the 1963 film The Birds. In the movie, the children sing it right before they are attacked by a large group of birds. "Risseldy Rosseldy" was also featured as a musical song in the children's video Wee Sing in Sillyville.