Listen tae the Teacher

He’s five year auld, he’s aff tae school,
Fairmer’s bairn, wi a pencil an a rule,
His teacher scoffs when he says ‘hoose’,
‘The word is “house”, you silly little goose.’
He tells his Ma when he gets back
He saw a ‘mouse’ in an auld cairt track.
His father laughs fae the stack-yard dyke, ‘
Yon’s a “moose”, ye daft wee tyke.’

Listen tae the teacher, dinna say dinna,
Listen tae the teacher, duma say hoose,
Listen tae the teacher, ye canna say maunna,
Listen tae the teacher, ye maunna say moose

He bit his lip and shut his mooth,
Which wan could he trust for truth?
He took his burden ower the hill
Tae auld grey Geordie o the mill.
‘Ann did they mock thee for thy tongue,
Wi them sae auld and thoo sae young?
They werena makkin a fuil o thee,
Makkin a fuil o themsels, ye see.’

Listen tae the teacher, dinna say dinna,
Listen tae the teacher, duma say hoose,
Listen tae the teacher, ye canna say maunna,
Listen tae the teacher, ye maunna say moose.

Say ‘hoose’ tae the faither, ‘house’ tae the teacher,
‘Moose’ tae the fairmer, ‘mouse’ tae the preacher,
When ye’re young it’s well for you
Tue dae in Rome as Romans do,
But when ye grow and ye are auld
Ye needna dae as ye are tauld,
Nor trim yer tongue tae please yon dame
That scorns the language o her hame.

Listen tae the teacher, dinna say dinna,
Listen tae the teacher, duma say hoose,
Listen tae the teacher, ye canna say maunna,
Listen tae the teacher, ye maunna say moose.

Then teacher thought that he wis fine,
He kept in step, he stayed in line,
An faither said that he wis gran,
Spak his ain tongue like a man.
And when he grew and made his choice
He chose his Scots, his native voice.
And I charge ye tae dae likewise
An spurn yon poor misguided cries.

Listen tae the teacher, dinna say dinna,
Listen tae the teacher, duma say hoose,
Listen tae the teacher, ye canna say maunna,
Listen tae the teacher, ye maunna say moose.