Tape 1994.067 transcription

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01
[Tunes.]

02
Right, that'll get your toes tappin again. The next quine that I would like to introduce you is from Peterheid, which is actually named 'the blue toon' and we were actually discussing why it's cawed the blue toon. There are eh, sort of probably, eh, about four scenarios for being the blue toon, the first one is most of the fishermen in the sort of the past years used to wear blue socks. The women used to wear blue mittens cause it's a caul place and that's one o the ither things as, an it's aye that caul and windy there that everybody's gan aboot lookin blue anyway. And finally, they also have blue lamp-posts which they probably don't have anywhere else in the land [laughs].

Anyway, I would like to welcome Anne Buchan, who is going to read some fine poetry written by her father, Peter. Anne Buchan..

03
Thank you ladies and gentlemen for the welcome. It's a pleasure to be here. The Buchan Heritage meets annually in Strichen in the month o May. I discovered last night that a lady who is in the audience tonight, met my father one day at this annual gathering, an in between competitions etc, he said he wisnae gan tae one o the hotels in Strichen as wis the custom for a lot o the competitors, contestants etc and guests, he wis gan hame tae his ane hoose. He wis gan hame for hairy tatties. Oh she liked hairy tatties. Weel come awa hame wi me and get hairy tatties. Well she didnae take him up on his invitation, she tells me that wis the last time she sa him (voice breaking). So for Isobel and the audience tonight: 'Hairy Tatties'.

04
Bring me a ling fae the Viking bank, a tusk fae the patch or the reef
Or catch me a cod on the Buchan coast, and al greet nae mair for beef
Steep 'er in sat for a three fower days, then dry her slow in the sun
In the month of May, fin the safter wins bring the green growth up through the grun

Bring me a bile o the finest pinks, fae a craft on warmin's braes
At the tale o the hirst fin the first fite frost, tells a tale o winter days
Peel them and bile in a fine big pot, wi my bonny fish in anither
Bree them baith fen ye think they're richt, sine ye'll chap them baith the gither

A knottie o butter, an a gless o milk, ye've a feast that's well worth a grace
Then waste nae a minute, as ye feel yer speen, and stap it intae yer face

Bring me a tusk fae the patch or the reef, fae the viking bank, a ling
Or catch me a cod on Buchan coast, then I ken I'll dine like a king.

Isobel, that wis for you. Thank you. That wis dedicated to Isobel. I'm sure my father would have agreed wholeheartedly.

05
Now in Peterheid, we hiv a sayin aboot a child ats gotten too much o their ane wey, male or female it can apply to either sex, a spilt vratch, a spilt vratch. I winnae say it any stronger an at. Tae me they are jist a spilt vratch. I think ye will agree at is young lady wis jist a spilt vratch.

Her mither wis a guttin quine at vrocht the sandy wid
Her father wis a canny sowel, in a he ever did
Wis scutter oot an in at hame wi twa three string a line
An gey sair made they were at times, tae please their Kirsty quine.

Twis 'Kirsty' this, and 'Kirsty' that, and 'Kirsty's needin sheen'
Bit Kirsty's darlin sheenickies[?] were come fae Aiberdeen
Ivver a sark upon her back wis sent for hine awa
For common dab fae Peterheid jist widnae dae ava.

Her brithers could rin barfit, as they plowtered doon the braes
Bit Kirsty eh not fancy gear tae hap her ten'er taes
The loons, like a the ither loons, hid patches on their docks
But never sma'd nor patch wis seen on Kirsty's bonny frocks.

In course o time, they a grew up, the loons they saucht the sea
But Kirsty she did nethin, like a dame o high degree
A silly geypit craiter, needin athin on a plate
The siller at wis spent for her wis sairer not for met.

She widnae gut a herrin, an a mask she couldnae shoe
For Kirsty wis a lady, and she thocht her bleed wis blue
Her satin hands were ower fine tae blad wi nets or fish
But jist give her a dunt for puttin dahlias in a dish.

She marriet, twa three summers back, a quet descent chiel
He's nivver aff the watter an I hear he's deein weel
He'll need tae keep the shippie gan, tae ply his Kirsty quine
Wi her sets o Doulton idols and the gran formica shrine.

She sortit tae yer supper, well I'm sure ye'll get a feed.
Ye'll spend a pleasant evenin lass, but dinnae loss the heid
An mention in e bygang, o twid be naisty if ye did
At her mither wis a guttin quine a vrocht wi sandy wid.

Thank you.

06
The last poem, 'Aspiration' was set to music by Jack Sinclair. The family appreciate it greatly, but to be honest I prefer it as a poem.

Let not the prospect of reward, my sole incentive be
When at the urging of thy call, I leave the sheltered harbour wall
And venture on life's sea

Let not the blinding mists of self, the way ahead obscure
Help me to play a manly part, illumine thou for me the chart
And keep my motives pure

But let my sense of duty be, a constant star to guide
To keep me, Lord, come weel or woe, still mindful of the debt I owe
To thee, the crucified

And should the adverse storms of fate, assail with furious force
Help me, Dear Lord, to brave the gale, to trim faith's torn and tattered sail
And set anew my course

Then, if with favouring breezes blessed, swift on that course I fly
Forbid it Lord that I should fly thy colours heedless of the cry of others in distress
Till heaven's peaks are clearly framed against the setting sun
Help me to toil with heart sincere, that I may worthy be to hear, thy precious words.
Well done.

Thank you ladies and gentlemen.

07
Now the next young quine who is coming up here has got a fine voice, especially when she says her poem, The Aspidistra, in fact anybody over the age of about 25 will be sitting up straight in their seats and behaving exceedingly well. I would like you to welcome Barbara Ann Burnett

08
Right, I'm going to start by singing a bothy ballad called Drumdelgie

There's a fairm toon up in Cairnie, it's kent baith far and wide
It's ca'd the hash o Drumdelgie on bonny Deveronside
It's five o'clock that we get up and hurry doon the stair
Tae get wir horses corned and fed like wives tae stracht their hair.

Half an oor at the stable, each tae the kitchie goes
Tae get started tae oor brakfast, which generally's brose
We've scarcely got oor brose weel supped and gien wir pints a tie
Fin the grieve he says, 'Hallo my lads ye'll be nae lang er nigh.'

At sax o' clock the mull's pit on tae gie us a stracht work
Tak's twal o us tae work tae her till ye could ring oor sark.
At acht o' clock the mulls taen aff and we hurry doon the stair
Tae get some quarter through the fan till daylicht days appear.

The cloods begin tae gently lift, the sky begins tae clear
An the grieve he says, 'Hallo my lads, ye'll be nae langer here'
It's sax o ye'll gang tae the ploo and sax tae ca the neeps
An the owsen they'll be efter ye fir they get on their feet.

In pittin on the harness and drawin oot tae yoke
The drift gang on sae very thick that we wis like tae choke
The drift gang on sae very thick, the ploo she widnae go
Twas then the cairten did commence amon the frost and snow.

Drumdelgie keeps a Sunday skweel, he thinks it is bit richt
Tae teach the young and the innocent the way for tae dae richt
So fare ye weel, Drumdelgie, I bid ye a adieu
I'll leave ye jist as I got ye, a maist unceevil crew.

09
Now I'm going to continue wi the Alford Cattle Show

I'll ne'er forget the mornin fin the fairmer said, Noo loon
Ye'll get aul Bess a deckit up and tae Alford ye'll gae doon
Wi horse 'n fancy harness I think we'll hae a go
Tae try and win the first prize et the Alford cattle show.

So if you want excitement and you'd like tae hae a go
Jist come along enjoy the fun at the Alford Cattle Show.

We set oot on the stroke o nine, aul Bess wis like a queen
Her tail a tied in bonny plaits her skin wis fair asheen
But I heard ey lad remarkin she hisnae lang tae go
As Bess and I proceeded tae the Alford Cattle Show.

So if you want excitement and you'd like tae hae a go
Jist come along enjoy the fun at the Alford Cattle Show.

Noo fin we landed at the park, I hid a look aroon
And met in wi the foreman, fae a place they ca'd Asloun
He said, ye dinna stand a chance
I said, well that's nae so, for we hope to win the first prize at the Alford cattle show.

So if you want excitement and you'd like tae hae a go
Jist come along enjoy the fun at the Alford Cattle Show.

Ye nivver sa sik bonny beasts as whit I saw that day
There wis prize bulls up fae Cloonies, bra stots fae Corse an Day
Oh there wis sik a lot tae see there, I'm sure I dinnae know
Fit why folks dinnae gyang tae see the Alford cattle show.

So if you want excitement and you'd like tae hae a go
Jist come along enjoy the fun at the Alford Cattle Show.

I got a rude awakenin, our Bess took second prize
And jist tae show she wisnae pleased, laid doon an widnae rise
But I thought I'd better dae ma bit, to show I wisnae slow
So I entered for the sports events at the Alford Cattle Show.

So if you want excitement and you'd like tae hae a go
Jist come along enjoy the fun at the Alford Cattle Show.

Noo efter I wis dinnert, I strippit tae the sark
And jined in a the races jist for a wee bit lark
But the obstacles fair bet me, my face wis fair aglow
For I tent ma breeks gin throw a bag at the Alford Cattle Show.

So if you want excitement and you'd like tae hae a go
Jist come along enjoy the fun at the Alford Cattle Show.

But I didnae let that incident upset my happy day
An efter some refreshment I was feelin kinda gay
So fan the band struck up a waltz, I thocht I'd hae a go
So I oxtered up aul Freuchie's deem at the Alford Cattle Show.

So if you want excitement and you'd like tae hae a go
Jist come along enjoy the fun at the Alford Cattle Show.

Noo as the nicht wis wearin on, I said, noo Mary Jane,
I'd like tae hae the last waltz and then I'll see ye hame
But that wis my undoin, and I'd like ye a to know
We git married nae lang efter the Alford Cattle Show.

So if you want excitement and you'd like tae hae a go
Jist come along enjoy the fun at the Alford Cattle Show.

[Applause.]

10
Now I'm going to finish wi a poem by JC Milne. Aye, ye might well hide Peter [laughs] and it's called 'Oh for Friday Nicht'

Oh for Friday nicht. Friday hame an hummin
Oh for Friday nicht. Friday's lang o comin.

Noo let's hae Geography. Fot's the toon fer jute?
Sit at peace Jemima, Kirsty pit awa yer snoot
Hey er Willy Wabster, stop powkin in yer briest
Fut? A horny gollach, well be here, fit niest.
Far's the granite city? Weel Georgina Broon?
Glasgae? Hud yer weesht, quine. Glasgae's jist a toon.
Okay, hoots an havers, the Broch preserve us a'.
Hey there Johnny Gamie, pit at preen awa.

Oh for Friday nicht. Friday hame an hummin
Oh for Friday nicht. Friday's lang o coming.

Noo let's hae yer spellings. Fut a hae neen oot?
Eh, a' richt en. Nature study. Fit gars tatties sproot.
Heating, moisture, fairly, whit mair Willie Gark.
Fairmers? Lord preserve's man, fairmers dinna work!
Dod, tik in the bottles. Fa wints milk e day
Mercy me, fit's wrang Jock, needin anither strae
No? Fit gars ye stan in gowp and glower, twa deid flees in yer bottle.
Well thank god there isnae fower.

Oh for Friday nicht. Friday hame an hummin
Oh for Friday nicht. Friday's lang o coming.

Fa would like some singin, a richt then sook awa
Dismiss a gal in fairmin, or Charlie's noo awa
Sing oot Susie Simmers, rax yer min like moo
Mercy me, Jean Tulloch, yer lowin like a coo
Noo for table mainners. Especially you Jock Broon
Dod man, fen yer suppin, sic a slobberin soon
An you Bill Bowie Baxter, as much as yer mebbe able
Try and hud yer elbucks and yer spleeters aff the table.

Oh for Friday nicht. Friday hame an hummin
Oh for Friday nicht. Friday's lang o coming.

Noo tik oot yer pencils. Dra the aul kirk spire.
Fit's at Jock, ye wint tae dra the squeel on fire.
Aricht an, fire ahied, gar the biggin bleeze
Mercy me Jean Gordon, fit gars ye scratch yer knees
Dod far's Meggie Mitchell, doon at her seat?
A sweetie bully. Jock, hud in yer feet.
Hing in noo Jean Calder, you tae Mugsie Wuggs
Mercy me Bill Bodie, fan did ye wash yer lugs?

Oh for Friday nicht. Friday hame an hummin
Oh for Friday nicht. Friday's lang o coming.

Govie Dick, the register. Fa's nae here 'eday.
Jockie Todd 'n' nickem. Grannie's washin day.
Jeanie, German Measles. Thamas, twa blin lumps
Jamie Tough, fits at Jean, his mither's takin mumps?
Noo the acht times table. Well deen Willie Flett.
Man, ye'll be director o the coonty yet. Whit's at?
No ye winna? Aricht an, please yersel.
Dod it's time for lousin. Willie, ring the bell.
Geordie shak e duster, Jean put past the chalk
Fits at Willie Wabster, a wyver on ma back.
Jock the aspidistra, tak it tae the sink.
Canny wi't ye gumbrel, it's auler an ye think.
Noo a word a warnin. Afore ye tak the road.
There's twa inspectors comin. Hud yer tongue Jock Todd.
Twa inspectors comin, fit's adee Jean Squires.
Yer mither's maybe comin, fa the devil cares.

Oh for Friday nicht. Friday hame an hummin
Oh for Friday nicht. It's been gey lang o coming.

11
Right, I'm afraid that is the end of our first third. They keep going on about halfs, but I don't see how you can have three halfs. Never mind.

I think there's a raffle. There's also cassettes, featuring many of the artists who are here tonight. Elizabeth Stewart has got a cassette on sale, Gordon Easton the fiddler has got a cassette on sale. And there's also Banff & Buchan's collection of fine North East songs, featuring Barbara Ann, young George Barclay, and Gordon Easton. In fact half the people here. So if you would like to buy some raffle tickets, I think there is actually one of these cassettes in the raffle, and they are also for sale at a very reasonable price of £5, and we will be back in a prompt ten minutes.

12
I should have known I would end up there eventually, cause all through my folk singing career I always sang songs from the North East. So diagonally opposite shall we say, so I think I've come home to the North East. I actually live, has anyone heard of Mackie's ice cream? Well, I live near the factory. My claim to fame.

13
The first song that I am going to sing, there is actually a bit of culture here, the tune is from Elizabeth's Aunt Lucy and the words are by Ewan McColl, and during the 1950's Ewan McColl did a programme called 'Singing the fishin', does anyone remember it? Oh there's a few nods, that's good then. I actually have sung a lot of fishing songs shall we say and I went to Fraserburgh Fish Festival and they put me on this boat in the harbour and I'm singing away, and this second mate on a support vessel for an oil rig said, Oh my father's got a copy of this. And I said, can I have a copy. So I've got a copy of all of the Singing and Fishing on it, and if you can manage to get a copy it's well worth listening to because its on about how in Whitby harbour in years gone by, how you never saw any water in the harbour, you just walked across the boats, so this is called the song of the Fish Gutters. A most exciting title. And I actually met a lady in Gardenstown who used to come up to Lerwick to gut the fish, gut the herring. It's got a chorus, so please join in.

Come a ye fisher lassies aye it's come awa wi me
Fae Cairnbulg and Gamrie and fae Inverallochy
Fae Buckie and fae Aiberdeen and a the country roon
We're awa tae gut the herrin, we're awa tae Yairmouth toon

Ye rise up in the mornin wi yer bundle in yer hand
Be at the station early, or ye'll surely hae tae stand
Tak plenty tae eat and the kettle for yer tea
Ah, ye'll surely dae a hunger on the way tae Yairmooth quay

The journey it's a lang yin, aye it taks a day or twa
And when ye reach yer lodgings, sure its soon asleep ye fa
But ye rise at five, wi the sleep still in yer ee
Yer awa tae find the guttin yet along the Yairmouth quay

It's early in the mornin, aye it's late intae the nicht
Yer hans are cut and chappit and ye look an unco sicht
An ye'll greet like a wean when ye pit them in the bree
And ye wish you were a thoosan miles awa fae Yairmouth quay

There's coopers there and curers there, buyers, cannae chiels
There's lassies at the picklin an ithers at the creels
An ye'll wish the fish had been a left in the sea
Bye the time ye finished guttin herrin on the Yairmouth quay

Aye, I've gutted fish in Lerwick aye in Stornowa and Shields
I've worked along the Humber mongst the barrels and the creels
Whitby, Grimsby, I've traivelled up and doon
But the place to see the herrin is the quay at Yairmouth toon

Come a ye fisher lassies, aye it's come awa wi me
Fae Cairnbulg and Gamrie and fae Inverallochy
Fae Buckie and fae Aiberdeen an a the country roon
I'm awa tae gut the herrin, I'm awa tae Yairmouth toon

Thank you.

14
As well as the bothy ballads in the North East, we also have what's known as the muckle songs, which are the great songs of tradition and this is of a sort of rather newer version of a great song of tradition and it is about the knight and shepherd's daughter. Now I actually work in Fyvie and this is where the song is set. And up until recently I'd never seen a knight, except you know when the sun goes down, so I am still waiting for this knight in shining armour to come riding along the road to come and meet me. But this is about a knight who takes advantage of a poor shepherd's lass, but however he gets his comeuppance at the end.

Tis of a shepherd's daughter keepin sheep on yonder hill-o
And by the calmer King's high knight and he would hae his will
He's tethered by the middle sma and by the silken goon-o
And he has had his will before he rose her up again

Noo that ye've had yer will o me, come tell tae me your name-o
For when my bairnie it is born I might cry him the same
It's some they ca me Jack, he said, and some they ca me John-o
But when I'm at the King's high coort, they ca me Wilful Wull

His mounted on his milk white steed and off away did ride-o
But she's kilted her petticoats roon her knees and ran at the horse's side
An when they cam tae the waterside, she bowed her head and swam-o
An when she cam tae the ither side, she took tae her heels and ran

An when she cam tae the King's high coort, she tirlt at the pin-o
An wha wis there but the King himsel tae let the fair maid in
Good morning to you fair maid, he cried, good morning sir says she-o
Is there a knight untae this ha this day has robbed me

Oh has he robbed ye o yer gowd, or robbed ye o yer purse
No but he's robbed me o ma maidenheid, and that's a damn sight worse
Well if he be a married man, a hangèd he will be-o
But if he be a single man, his body I'll gie tae thee.

The King's cried oot his merry men, by one, by two by three-o
An Wullie was once the foremost man, but last behind come he
As he come crippled, and he come blind, come poor fell'd ower a tree-o
But be he crippled or be he blind, the very same mannie wis he

Oh had a I drunk the well water, when I had drunk the wine
Tae hae a shepherd's daughter for to be a true lover o mine
But when they come intae the kirk the joke wis to be seen-o
For she wis the Laird o Fyvie's lass and he wis a squire's son

Thank you.

15
Right we'll go back to the fishing theme, with a chorus this time. After I announced it, I thought - this bloody song doesn't have a chorus! Anyway, this one does have a chorus and I'll, singing isn't really strong in Shetland, but I'm going to make you sing. I'll tell you the words first, the chorus goes

When I look tae yon high hills and my laddie's nae there
When I look tae yon high hills it maks my hairt sair
When I look tae yon high hills an a tear blins my ee
For the lad I loo dearly lies a distance frae me

However, it's one of the happier fishing songs, it's always about these sailors that are never seen again.

It's called: 'I'm a puir rovin lass'

I'm a puir rovin lassie an my fortune's been bad
Since I fell in love wi a young sailor lad
He coorted me early, bae nicht and by day
But the lad I loo dearly lies a distance away

When I look tae yon high hills and my laddie's nae there
When I look tae yon high hills it maks my hairt sair
When I look tae yon high hills an a tear blins my ee
For the lad I loo dearly lies a distance frae me

Noo its friens and relations, they've all joined in one
To part me and my true love, they've done all they can
To part me and my true love, they've done all they know
But the lad I loo dearly still loves me more so

When I look tae yon high hills and my laddie's nae there
When I look tae yon high hills it maks my hairt sair
When I look tae yon high hills an a tear blins my ee
For the lad I loo dearly lies a distance frae me

It's a bunch o blue ribbons to my love I'll prepare
And all through the summer I will give him to wear
And when he comes back again I will crown him with joy
And I'll kiss the sweet lips o my ain sailor boy

When I look tae yon high hills and my laddie's nae there
When I look tae yon high hills it maks my hairt sair
When I look tae yon high hills an a tear blins my ee
For the lad I loo dearly lies a distance frae me

Well done! Very good.

16
Have you heard the expression that it takes a lang spin tae sup wi a Fifer? At's aright then. This is a long Fifer that I'm gan tae ask tae come up here, and the other loon is a Buddie. Does anyone know where a Buddie bides? Paisley - well done! A cosmopolitan audience here. That's good.

I'd like to welcome Scott Thompson and Dave Cherry up on stage please. They are also from Longside.

17
Good evening. I'm Scott Thompson and this is Dave Cherry. If you are wondering why we are all dressed in black tonight, well our landlady has been doing our washing for us, you know every day she says any washing just put it down there. Well we went out and bought her a box of chocolates today, Quality Street and she stopped doing the washing, and it's all because the lady loves Milk Tray [laughs]. I just thought o that. Enough of the jokes.

First song I'd like to do is a homesickness song, because I suffered myself when I first came up here, after a couple of days I was feeling a bit down until the lads took me up to the lounge for two or three hours and I was alright after that wasn't I! It's a Jim Reid song, and it's about a lad who is working down in England and he is talking to the wind as it blows down from Scotland.

Tell me what was on your road, you rovin Northern wind
As you come blowin fae the land that's nivver fae my mind
Ma feet hae travelled England, but I'm daein for the North
Ma man a saw the siller sights run aff the Firth of Forth

A wind a came then weel anew, and find me fa and rise
And when I feel that creepin mist on yonder shore that lies
But tell me as you pass them by what saw ye on the way
Ma man a rocked the rovin gulls at sail up in the Tay

Wind tell me, leein wind, afore ye come tae Fife
For there's muckle lyin yon today, means mair tae nor life
Ma man a swept the Angus braes yet hivven met rod fer years
Ah wind forgie a hameless loon at canna see for tears

And far up in the Angus straths I saw the wild geese flee
A lang, lang skein o beatin wings wi their heids towards the sea
And aye their cryin voices trail ahint them in the air
A wind hae mercy, hud yer weesht, for I daurna listen mair.

18
.. fell in love with, and must be above his station, so he never had any chance of getting together.

Summer's a pleasant time
Floo'ers o every colour
The water runs doon the fa
And I long for my true lover.

Aye waukin-o
Waukin still and weary
Sleep I can get nane
Thinkin on my dearie
Aye waukin-o.

An first fin she cam tae the toon
They ca'd her Grace MacFarlane
And noo she's gaen awa
They ca aul folks darlin.

Aye waukin-o
Waukin still and weary
Sleep I can get nane
Thinkin on my dearie
Aye waukin-o.

When I sleep I dream
And when I wake I'm eerie
Sleep I can get nane
Thinkin on my dearie.

Aye waukin-o
Waukin still and weary
Sleep I can get nane
Thinkin on my dearie
Aye waukin-o.

Her faither loves her well
Her mither loves her better
And I loo the lass mysel
But me I cannae get her.

Aye waukin-o
Waukin still and weary
Sleep I can get nane
Thinkin on my dearie
Aye waukin-o.

19
Dave's being extremely personal - you again. But no it's no me again, but actually it is a quine who has been up singing already and shook ye tae yer seats. Please give a welcome to Barbara Ann Burnett....

The gloamin wins are bla'in saft
Aroon my lonely stable laft
Amid the sky lies dusky red
The sunbeams wander roon ma bed.

The doctor left me in good cheer
But something tells me death is near
The time on earth has nae been lang
My time has come and I'm unyoung.

Ah meet is but a week the mornin
Since I was weel and hairstin corn
As foo o health and strength and fun
As ony man among the throng.

But somethin in my breist did wrang
A vessel burst and blood it sprang
And as the sun sets in the skies
They lay me doon nay mair tae rise.

Fareweel my horse my bonnie fair
I'll yokin lows wi you nay mair
Fareweel my ploo, wi you this hand
Will turn ower nae mair fresh land.

Fareweel my freens my comrades dear
My voice ye shall nae langer hear
Fareweel to yonder settin sun
My time has come and I mun yung.

I've served my maister weel and true
My weel deen work he'll nivver rue
And yet forby my michty striven
Tae reach the pearly gates o hivven.

Tis weel my maker knows my name
Will he gie me a welcome hame
As I should help in need of ford
Receive me in thy mercy Lord.

20
Slightly up tempo this time. I'm going to do Neeps tae Pluck.

Twis on a Martinmas market day, the snow lay on the ground
Fen a fairmer he gaed up tae a lad and offered him ten pound
But mine ye've neeps tae pluck in oot the muck
And a hunner ither jobs put by
And seein the guid wife she's laid doon
Ye winna mine milkin the kye.

Up spoke the lad, oh he wis mad
What wis that ye said
That e'd mak me a fairmer's boy into a dairy maid
Oh yer neeps I'll pluck yer nowt I'll muck
An dae ony ither jobs forbye
But I'm blessed if I will undertake tae milk yer bloomin kye.

Oh hud yer tongue the fairmer said and nae mak sic a soon
Here tak the shillin and say nae mair afore a crood gither roon
But mine ye've neeps tae pluck in oot the muck
And a hunner ither jobs forbye
And if the guid wife she gets up I winna bid ye milk the kye.

That's a very weel the laddie said but I've heard that tale afore
And I man hae mair proof than that afore I enter yer door
Or yer neeps I winna pluck, your nowt I winna muck
Nor dae ony ither jobs forbye
Nor tak in hand tae be a dairy maid and milk yer bloomin kye.

We hiv a maid the fairmer said, and she his tae milk as weel
Hold on, hold on, the laddie cried, man that's anither tale
Oh yer neeps I'll pluck, yer nowt I'll muck, and dae ony ither jobs forbye
And if the maid, she gangs alang wi me, we'll very soon milk yer kye.

So the laddie arrived wi his pooches foo and a chackie[?] on his back
And he spied the fairmer (fades out) haein a quaet crack
That'll be the guid wife, the laddie thocht, I'm glaid she's nae laid doon
For I dinna want to start milkin yet, afore I've seen the toon.

My wife's nae better the fairmer said, but is is oor dairy maid
She'll help ye wi the milkin once she's gotten yer supper laid
Oh yer neeps ye can pluck, yer nowt ye can muck and dae ony ither jobs forbye
It's a wonner at a woman wi a face like that, she disnae put yer coos a dry
Aye, she disnae put your coos a dry.

21
Now I'm going to finish wi the Muckin o Geordie's Byre, and it's got a chorus.

When I want tae start lauchin I think o the scene
Fan abody roon aboot came oor to clean
But clairted themselves richt up to the een
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.
The ???? and Micky Doo
The aul wife hersel and teenie McGrew
Wi dizens o ithers that left aff the ploo
For the muckin o Geordie's byre.

Oh siccan a sotter wis abody in
Five mile awa ye could hear the din
Nae win'er the very coo started tae grin
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.

The fusky gaed roon Tammy fleein the doo
An aye as they drank, the mair they got foo
The only een sober, the calf and the coo
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.
Tammy rode oot ??? for mair
Sine tugged the coo still and poo'd oot her hair
Fen she kicked oot he gaed up in the air
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.

Oh siccan a sotter wis abody in
Five mile awa ye could hear the din
Nae winner the very coo started tae grin
At the muckin o Geordie's byre

The first in the besom was teenie McGrew
Sittin doon in the stable and cos she was foo
And she kicked up a sic a hullaballoo
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.
She yelled like a ship distressed in a gale
An aye on a sair bit teenie would wail
So they bandaged her up wi her aul bridal veil
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.

Oh siccan a sotter wis abody in
Five mile awa ye could hear the din
Nae winner the very coo started tae grin
At the muckin o Geordie's byre

The bobby came roon, tae queel doon e soun,
The craiter got lost where the ruts had their foon
He fell intae the midden and wis likely tae droon
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.
The weicht o him sent the barra in bits
The wheel cairries on and the aul wife it hits
Loch, ye should have seen her, she did the splits
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.

Oh siccan a sotter wis abody in
Five mile awa ye could hear the din
Nae winner the very coo started tae grin
At the muckin o Geordie's byre

Geordie laid doon sayin he wanted tae dee
???? who's a farewell tae gae
Fell asleep in the strae wi a barley bree
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.
He drinked and said mistress, I'll kiss ye the noo
But losh fits gan wrang ye've an affa weet moo
Fan he crackit a spunk he wis kissin the coo
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.

Oh siccan a sotter wis abody in
Five mile awa ye could hear the din
Nae winner the very coo started tae grin
At the muckin o Geordie's byre

Een by een cowpit ower in the grieve
Een by een they a fell asleep
By and by the meen took a peep
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.
On the ??? let oot a yahoo,
But they didnae need ony hushyballoo
Ower a valley next day wis the moo o the coo
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.

Oh siccan a sotter wis abody in
Five mile awa ye could hear the din
Nae winner the very coo started tae grin
At the muckin o Geordie's byre.

22
Wait 'til I get this important bit of paper. This next man, when a loon grows up in Aberdeenshire they become chiels, is that right? I would like to introduce you to a fine chiel. He's the only area, well what I know about the area he comes from is Stuartfield, Ellon and if you need your lawnmower sharpened or your garden shears that's the bit to go because there's a big area that attend to your garden needs.

This man is with Buchan Heritage Society. I don't know if you know but there's a whole mixture of us up here, from Fyvie Folk Club, from Longside Folk Club, from Buchan Heritage Society and also guests of Buchan and Banff District Council. So I would like to welcome George Murray who is a moothie player and also a Jewish harp player.

23
[Moothie tunes.]

24
[Moothie tunes.]

25
[Jew's harp tunes.]

[Sheila Macdonald:] Well done George and now we're going to have another Dod. Going to invite young George Barclay to come up and sing a couple of songs for you.

26
I'll start off with a bothy ballad. 'Lonely at Nicht in the Bothy'

Noo fan I gaed hame tae Airda
The boss hid nae a clue
He couldnae back a tractor cairt
There wis nae wey he could ploo
So I got a the work tae dae
N' at suited me jist fine
An I bide in a little timmer bothy.

For the caul wins they bla in unnerneath my timmer bothy door
An the moosies they joke in an oot the knotholes in the floor
But that's nae the worst o bein here
Discomforts I can thole
For it's lonely at nicht in the bothy.

Noo I dae up a his fancy bulls
An I pit them oot fer Perth
An I ken I am the best showman
That ever walked the earth
An fan a the judgins over an the silver has been won
It's back tae ma little timmer bothy.

For the caul wins they bla in unnerneath my timmer bothy door
An the moosies they joke in an oot the knothholes in the floor
But that's nae the worst o bein here
Discomforts I can thole
For it's lonely at nicht in the bothy.

Now I've nae wife tae tie me doon
So I'm aye on the loose.
I'm nearly ilkae nicht doon at Wattie's public hoose
But ye canna blame a man for takin comfort far he can
It's lonely at nicht in the bothy.

For the caul wins they bla in unnerneath my timmer bothy door
An the moosies they joke in an oot the knothholes in the floor
But that's nae the worst o bein here
Discomforts I can thole
For it's lonely at nicht in the bothy
Oh it's lonely at nicht in the bothy.

27
Aul Flossie she lay sleepin
Wi her nose upon her pa
Fan something started biting her
And she began tae cla.

Well she scrapit wi her hint leg
And she scrapit unco weel
Fan a fell out a muckle flech
And landed on the steel.

Weel steel, it wisnae a warm place
In the middle o the nicht
So flech it didnae hesitate
An it began tae shift.

Well it lowpit tae the airmchair
Raised it's sleekit head
An in the corner o the room
Spied the maister's bed.

Weel aul Jock lay sleepin
[snores] wi his moo gapin wide
The flech it lowpit on his chin
Hid a glower inside.

Na, na he said and lowpit aff
At's nae the place for me
So it creepit doon aneth his claes
And landed on his knee.

Oh aul Jock he wisna a modern chiel
For he sleepit in his sark
An the skin aroon his kneecap
Wis as teuch as ony bark.

But the flech remained undaunted
And gied a richt guid nip
Quite satisfied with fit it got
It shifted til his hip.

Anither bite and jumped again
It landed on his fit
It crawled up his instep
And started biting it.

The peer aul man had kittlie feet
And he began to lauch
The dog it barked, the wife sat up
Rail fleg't in the dark.

Dear Lord, dear Lord preserve us Jock
Hae ye tint yer wit?
But the mannie couldnae answer her
An tried tae claw his fit.

Well fit happened next I'll tell ye
Perhaps ye've maybe guessed
The flech gaed creepin up his sark
And landed on his vest.

Ach, crack a spunk and licht a lump
The guid wife roars tae Jock
She rummelt ower the heid o him
Sine put on er frock.

Calm yersel, an tell mi man
Noo I've got ower, ower ma fricht
Fit kind o cairry on de ye think ye're huddin
In the middle o the nicht.

But the mannie couldnae answer her
A he could dae wis pech.
Oh woman I may be wrang,
But I think it wis a flech.

A flech she roared, ach tik aff yer sark
A nd gies a look
Well he did what he was bidden
But his han' kinda shook.

Noo a' this fuss and bother
Jist proved ower muckle for the bug
So it lowpit fae the semmit
And bit the wifie's lug.

An noo I think ma pen's gaen dry
I'll gie ye a bed
Far dae ye think it lowpit next
Aha, nae far you think, Geordie loon
Gaed back tae Flossie's neck.

28
Now around about the turn of the century there was a headmaster at New Deer in Aberdeenshire called Gavin Greig, who was a fine collector of north east songs and ballads and the like. His cousin (sort of once removed we've decided) was Edvard Grieg, from Norway, cause the Greigs had gone to Norway and changed their name slightly. Now Gavin decided he would actually go down because Edvard Greig was playing in Glasgow so he toddled, imagine toddling all the way from New Deer to Glasgow at the turn of the century, must have taken him a week. However he went down there and watched Edvard Greig perform. This poor man, I mean he didn't even introduce himself, came all the way back up to Aberdeenshire and never met his cousin once removed.

The link here is we have another collector of songs here, just over a year ago Banff and Buchan District Council made a traditional musician in residence and the man who was appointed to the job and who has done a very able job is Tom McKean. Please welcome Tom McKean.

Well I'll sing a song that Gavin Greig collected, it was made by a minister in 1842 and I think no ones education is complete without listening to this profound song. It is one of over 3000 songs that Gavin Greig collected and there are some other silly ones in there as well.

29
If you're at Dumbarton fair
Gang tae the castle when your there
Ye'll see a sicht baith rich and fair
The nose o Captain Frazier.

Unless you're blind or unco glaikit
A mile awa you're sure to see it
For nearer hand a man gangs wi it
That owns the nose o Frazier.

It's great in length, it's great in girth
It's great in grief, it's great in mirth
Though grown with years, twas great at birth
The nose o Captain Frazier.

I've heard volcanoes loudly roaring
And Niagara's waters pouring
But o gin ye nae had heard the snoring
Fae the nose o Captain Frazier.

Twid wauken a sleepin congregation
Rouse to battle sleeping nations
Dae awa wi preachin and orations
Try the nose o Frazier.

It's great in length, it's great in girth
It's great in grief, it's great in mirth
Though grown with years, twas great at birth
The nose o Captain Frazier.

Gin French invaders tried to land
Upon wir glorious native strand
Fear not if ships are no at hand
Trust the nose o Frazier.

Just crack that cannon ower the shore
Well rammed with snuff and let it roar
Ae Hielan sneeze and never more
They'll door the nose o Frazier.

It's great in length, it's great in girth
It's great in grief, it's great in mirth
Though grown with years, twas great at birth
The nose o Captain Frazier.

Gin that great nose is ever dead
To bury it you dinna need
No coffin made of wood or lead
Will hold the nose o Frazier.

Just let it stand itself alone
It act like some great standing stone
That all the world may see its bone
In memory of Frazier.

It's great in length, it's great in girth
It's great in grief, it's great in mirth
Though grown with years, twas great at birth
The nose o Captain Frazier.

30
Must tell you, during that song I was enjoying my curry again. I'll just do some mouth music for now.

[Gaelic mouth music.]

31
Tom's actually a very modest person. He actually won four prizes at Mod, as opposed to Maud in Aberdeenshire. Congratulations to Tom for winning them.

That is the end of our second third. Are you enjoying yourselves so far, so you're going to stick around for the third third!

32
[Tunes.]

33
It's really fine to have fine young people playing instruments and singing. Fit's Aiberdeen daein noo Dod - extra time ! Oh me, I telt ye Willie Miller would be at the dole queue at that Union Street the morn....

Has anyone heard the song the Hash o Benagoak? Yes! Oh Great. This next loon that's coming to sing for you now actually stays at the fairm that was known as Benagoak, bit they've renamed it Mains o Cairnorrie....

Now this is the difficult bit, it's at Methlick,...there's two villages one's called Methlick and one's called Mintlaw. An they're nae anywhere related an they're no even alike, but I've got a terrible block about what's Methlick, so we decided we'd call a new sweetie after both of them, call it Mintlick. Anyway, I'd like to welcome John Pratt, who's a bothy balladeer an a cornkister singer. Are you coming up here, John, to give us three songs or so? [End of tape.]

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