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Song

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Language
English
Comments
[Roud 117; Child 277; G/D 7:1282; Ballad Index C277; MusTrad DB26; trad.] The ballad is derived from the traditional tale of The Wife Lapped in Morrel’s Skin, dating from the 16th century or earlier and evolved into "The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin". In Scotland the ballad became known as "The Wee Cooper o' Fife". Synopsis - A man has married a woman of higher birth than him. She scorns doing household labor. The man kills a wether (castrated male sheep), skins it, and wraps her in it. He declares that he cannot beat her, but he can certainly beat a wether's skin. She recants her refusal and works.

The American and British Isles versions have regionalized lyrics but tell the same story. Hedy West released the song twice in 1965 with two different names "Little Old Man Lived Out West" and "The Wife Wrapt In Wether's Skin".
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