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1 |
Gloomy
Winter's noo awa' (Robert
Tannahill)
A love song by the poet Robert Tannahill, a contemporary
of Burns. From the singing of Dougie Maclean. |
|
2 |
John
Anderson (Robert
Burns)
From Robert Burns'
Merry Muses, the bawdy
versions of many songs
he collected or wrote,
most of which were not
thought genteel enough
for the female clientele
of his editor. We
call it "Mrs Anderson's
Blues". |
|
3 |
Slave's
Lament (Robert
Burns)
On a visit to Dundee, Burns is said to have caught
sight of a slave ship in the harbour. It was
en route from Senegal to the plantations of Virginia. Burns
takes the part of the slave imprisoned on the ship
and tries to convey what it felt like to be "'torn
from that lovely shore". From Sheena Wellington
and Dougie Maclean. |
|
4 |
Darn
that Dream (Van
Heusen/Delange)
Corrina learnt this song from a wonderful pianist,
Tim Elwell, in Leeds. |
|
5 |
The
Collier Laddie (Robert
Burns)
Imagine it. Turning
down riches and a handsome
suitor tae "ging wi' yin
that's black" (black was
the name given to a collier
- coal miner - because he was
always covered in coal dust). |
|
6 |
Donal
Og
An Irish ballad first translated from the Gaelic in
the 6th century. It tells of a young woman jilted
by her love and shamed as a result. Christine
has this from the singing of Al O'Donnell. |
|
7 |
The
Witches' Reel
A song from 1591 and the witch trials of King James
VI of Scotland. A time when any woman could be
accused of being a witch on a whim. The words
came from the transcripts of one of the trials in connection
with a plot by Francis Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, and
others to kill the king. It is the first written
record of a reel in Scotland. Christine has a
theory that some local worthy trumped up charges to "frame" the
women and claim their possessions. |
|
8 |
The
Dowie Dens o' Yarrow
One of many versions
of this beautiful Border ballad
which tells the tale of a young
girl who's fallen in love with
someone "below her station". Her
brothers and their friends
take drastic action. |
|
9 |
If
I had a Ribbon Bow
From a version by
Maxine O'Sullivan, a black
jazz vocalist who used to work
with the John Kirby sextet
in the early '30s. She
had a yen for many of the hold
songs and sang some wonderful
arrangements - Barbara Allen
is another. This one
is a bit like a fairytale,
everything would be wonderful
if only she had a ribbon for
her hair! |
|
10 |
Wha'll
mow me now (Robert
Burns)
Robert Burns' tale of a young girl who's lamenting
the loss of her ability to earn a living after having
some fun with a soldier. Her profession is the "oldest" sort. We
sing it as if she is having a conversation with some "colleagues" about
her condition and the unsympathetic "dame",
some would call her "madam". We heard
this from singers including Gordeanna McCulloch, Sylvia
Barnes and Janet Russell. |
|
11 |
The
Braes o' Killiekrankie
O * The
Lea-Rig (Robert
Burns)
The first song is about one of the earlier Jacobite
rebellions. The Battle of Killiekrankie was
fought in 1689 as part of the Scots' rebellion against
William of Orange who had replaced his father-in-law
James VII and II as king. It is notable for
the death of Claverhouse and the bravery of the participants. |
|
12 |
Boser
Girls (Ashley
Hutchings)
Written by Ashley Hutchings to celebrate the meeting
of two Appalachian clog dancing teams, this dark song
sounds a warning to all women about marriage - particularly
to a miner going through hard times. Christine
heard this from Zena Tubman, a singer from the north-east
of England. |
|
13 |
Hishey
Bah
Danny Couper of Aberdeen
gave Elspeth this version,
he learned it from Jeannie
Robertson. The story: a
young woman laments her lost
youth (in both senses of the
word) as she sings her small
child to sleep. The
mother is also warning her
daughter of the fickleness
of young men and to beware
their intentions. |
|
14 |
Down
in the Jungle
A traditional children's street and playground song
which has many variations. This one we learned
from Jennifer in the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, just after
a live set for radio. |
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All
compositions traditional
unless credited, arranged
by Chantan.
Mixed
by Robin Rankin and
Chantan with Rob Stokes |