1. |
Campfire
00:34
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2. |
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The burn was big wi' spate
And there cam tumblein' doon,
Topsalterie, the half of a gate
An auld fish-hake, and a great muckle skate,
And a lum hat wantin' th' croon
The auld wife stood on th' bank,
As they gied swirlin' roon,
She took a guid look, and syne says she,
"There's food and there's firin' gaen tae th' sea,
And a lum hat wantin' th' croon!"
So she gruppit th' branch of a saugh,
And she kickit off ane of her shoon,
An' she stuck oot her fit, but it caught in the gate,
An' awa' she went wi' th' great muckle skate,
An' a lum hat wantin' th' croon!
She floated fu' many a mile,
Past cottage and village and toon,
She'd an awfu' time astride of the gate,
Though it seemed t'gree fine wi' th' great muckle skate,
And the lum hat wantin' th' croon!
A fisher was waukin' th' deck,
By the licht of his pipe and th' moon,
When he sees an auld body astride of a gate,
Come bobbin' along in the waves wi' a skate,
And a lum hat wantin' th' croon!
"There's a man overboard!" cries he,
"Ye hear?" quo she, "I'll droon!
A man overboard? It's a wife on a gate!
It's auld Mistress Mackintosh here wi' a skate,
And a lum hat wantin' th' croon!
Was she nippit tae death at th' Pole?
Has India bakit her broon?
I canna tell that, but whatever her fate,
I'll wager ye'll find t'was shared by a gate,
And a lum hat wantin' th' croon!
There's a moral attached tae my song:
On greed ye should aye gie a froon!
When ye think of the wife that was lost for a gate, An auld fish hake and a great muckle skate,
And a lum hat wantin' th' croon!
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3. |
Selkie Bairn
05:51
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He came fae the ocean and dazzled wi his beauty
ma man awa’ fishin’ he sat me oan his knee
enchanted i kissed him and then he lay doon wi me
when dawn broke the mornin, he returned tae the sea
The spell lifted fae me, I kent I wis wi baby
my husband returned and a faither he’d now be
the bairn wis sae canty, her eyes sae black, sae shiny
my Jamie jist looked at me, fer ne’er a fool wis he
we loved oor wee lassie and a’ways she wis wi me
we’d sit at the harbour and sing a melody
oot o’er the wild salt winds, the ragged rocks and islands
a calling the selkie who had lay doon wi me
my lass no yet seven, I sang her tae her slumber
I tucked her in blankets and kissed her brow gently
Arose in the mornin tae wake my precious darlin’
found gold neath her blankets but nae bonnie bairn to see
Oh cursed be ye selkie fer troubles ye have brought me
and blessed be the wee thing ye’ve stolen tae the sea
ye can keep a’ yer gold fer whit use is it tae me
if I’ve no ma bonnie bairn tae dander oan ma knee?
10 sore years passed by and we ne’er forgot oor lassie
2 more bairns we had but we aye wished it were 3
then ane nicht I heard her a keening at the harbour
and joyfu I joined her fer tae sing oor melody
By the licht o the poor man, she dazzled wi her beauty
my lass wis a’ grown bit at ance I kent it she
We sang a’ the nicht then she kissed my brow gie gently
when dawn broke the mornin she returned tae the sea
So wimmen beware o’ these other-worldly charmers
they’ll capture yer hearts and bring tears tae yer ee
And ne’er lose the sicht o the wee yins that yer raisin’
for gold brings cauld comfort when yer bairn is lost at sea
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4. |
The Howff of Tibby Pagan
04:23
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5. |
Brass Box Hinge
00:15
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6. |
Auld Robin Gray
06:20
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When the sheep are in the fauld, and the kye at hame
and all the world tae sleep has gane
The waes o’ my heart fall like showers fae my e’e
When my gid man lies sound by me
May Jamie loved me well and he sought me for his bride
but saving for a pound he had naething else beside
Tae make that crown a pound, my Jamie gaed tae sea
And the crown and the pound were baith fer me
He hadne been gane fer 12 months and a day
when ma faither broke his leg and oor kye wis stown away
Ma mither she fell sick, and ma Jamie at the sea
And auld Robin Gray came a courtin’ me
Ma faither couldne work, ma mither couldne spin
I toiled nicht and day but their bread I couldne win
Auld Rab maintained them baith and wi’ tears in his e’e
said Jeanie fer their sake, O marry me?
My heart it said nae, I wanted Jamie back
but the wind it had blown strong and his ship it was a wreck
His ship it was a wreck o why didne Jamie Dee?
And why dae I live to say wae is me?
Ma faither pressed me sair, ma mither didne speak
but she looked intae ma face and my heart wis fit tae break
they gied him my hand, though ma heart wis at the sea
And Auld Robin Gray is guid man tae me
I hudne been a wife a week but only four
When sitting sae mournfully aw nicht at the door
I saw ma Jamie’s ghaist, for I couldne think it he
Till he said I’ve come hame for tae marry thee
Well sair did we greet and meikle did we say
We took but ae kiss, and we tore oorselves away
I wish that I were died but I’m no like to dee
Oh why do I live to say ‘wo is me’?
I care nae tae work, I care nae tae spin
I darenae think o Jamie, for that would be a sin
But I’ll dae ma best, a guid wife tae be,
For Auld Robin Gray, he is kind tae me
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7. |
Brass Tub & Birdsong
00:19
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8. |
Brisk Young Lassie
01:07
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Why should I a brisk young lassie
be forced tae wed a feckless auld man?
Hoastin and hirplin his lamiter bodie
I’ll die far rather than gie him ma hand
Kir or market aye he follows me
gapin glowerin till I’d fain ban
Then at oor ingleneuk ilka day havrin
I’ll die far rather than gie him ma hand
My ane kin are like to deave me
Bout hoose and hame, siller and lan’
Deil tak yer siller an’ lan’ a’ thegither
I’ll die far rather than gie him may han’
My ain Jo is young an bonnie
And though he’s poor he’s aye true tae me
I’ll hae nae man but ma ain dearest johnnie
An’ ne’er the auld man, altho I should die
Why should I a brisk young lassie
be forced tae wed a feckless auld man?
Hoastin and hirplin his lamiter bodie
I’ll die far rather than gie him ma hand
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9. |
Mary's Dream
07:09
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The moon has climbed the highest hill
Which rises o'er the banks of Dee,
And from the eastern summit sheds
Her silver light on tower and nee.
When Mary laid her down to sleep
Her thoughts on Sandy far at sea,
When soft and low a voice was heard
Say: "Mary, weep no more for me."
She from her pillow gently raised
Her head to ask who there might be,
And saw young Sandy shivering stand
With visage pale and hollow eye.
"Oh, Mary dear, cold is my clay,
It lies beneath a stormy sea,
For, far from thee, I sleep in death,
So, Mary, weep no more for me.
"Three stormy nights and stormy days
We spent upon the raging main,
And long we strove our bark to save,
But all our striving was in vain.
"And even when horror chilled my blood,
My heart was filled with love for thee;
The storm is past, and I'm at rest,
So, Mary, weep no more for me.
"Oh. maiden dear, thyself prepare,
We soon shall meet upon that shore
Where love is free from doubt or care,
Where thou and I shall part no more."
Loud crows the cock. the shade has fled,
No more of Sandy can she see,
When soft and low a voice was heard,
"Sweet Mary, weep no more for me."
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10. |
Breadbin Chime
00:23
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11. |
Mary La Belle
02:49
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A Dublin lass in 1908
Cam’ tae Dundee fer she wis irate
Winston Churchill had got her goat
By sayin’ wumminn shouldne vote
Mary Maloney had a plan
Tae silence the wee pompous man
A dinner bell she sought tae gain
Then followed him roon oan his campaign
DINGDONG DINGDONG wis a’ they heard
They couldne catch a single word
If he should speak, if he should shout
DINGDONG DINGDONG would drown him out
Noo Churchill had a speech tae make
Tae workers at the factory gate
But suffragettes fae near and far
Made him choose tae speak fae in his car
But who should ride up in a cart
And stop him before he could start
Mary Maloney breanges in
And lets her disapproval ring
DINGDONG DINGDONG Apologize!
Fer a’ yer bigotry and lies
And if ye dinne turn aboot
DINGDONG DINGDONG will drown ye oot
Fer seven days she followed him
And stood afore him with a grin
She’d raise a brow with bell in hand
And dare he go ahead as planned
Wi’ brand new speakers at some cost
He tried tae get his point across
But policies he couldne quote
Fer when he tried tae win a vote
DINGDONG DINGDONG wi’ a’ her might
She rang the day intae the night
Though Winston frowned the crowd a’ laughed
And wondered wid her arm fa’ aff
DINGDONG DINGDONG fer Mary LaBelle
In ten years time she’ll vote hersel’
If Churchill fer her mark should tout
DINGDONG will drown him out
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12. |
Naebody Kens Ye
05:09
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1
Are ye doin’ ought weel, are ye’ thriving ma man?
Be thankfu’ to fortune for all that she sends ye
Ye’ll hae plenty o’ friends aye tae offer their han’
When ye needna their countenance, a’body kens ye
But wait ye a while till the tide taks the turn
And awa wi the ebb drifts the favours she lends ye
Cauld friendship will then leave ye lanely tae mourn
When ye need o’ their friendship, naebody kens ye
naebody kens ye, naebody kens ye
When ye need o’ their friendship, naebody kens ye
2
The crony wha’ stuck like a burr tae yer side
And vowed wi’ his heart’s dearest blood to befriend ye
A five guinea note man will part ye as wide
as if oceans and deserts were lying between ye
It’s the siller that does’t man, the siller, the siller
It’s the siller that breaks ye and maks ye and mends ye
when yer pockets are troom and nae wab i’ the loom
then tak ye ma word for’t, there’s naebody kens ye
Naebody kens ye, naebody kens ye
Then tak ye ma word for’t, naebody kens ye
3
But think nae I mean that a’ mankind are sae
It’s the butterfly friends that misfortune should fear aye
There are friends worth the name, Guid send they were mae
Wha the caulder the blast, aye the closer draw near ye
The friends wha can tell us our fauts tae oor face
But aye frae oor faes in oor absence defend us
Lecze me oan sic hearts! O’ life’s pack he’s the ace
Wha scorns tae disown us when naebody kens us
They bodies ken ye, they bodies ken ye
Wha scorns tae disown us when naebody kens us
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13. |
Drawer Knocker
00:32
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14. |
We Are Not Removing
05:24
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She came fae Kilbarchan, the third wan o’ seven
Her faither wove carpets to keep his weans fed
In the hoose o’ a weaver if yer listenin yer learnin
Tis the poor grind the grain, while the rich eat the bread
Before long young Mary Rough thought this isne good enough
The workers are weary, conditions are grim
They toil all their days away for barely a peck o’ pay
Then doss wi’ their faimlies like fish in the tin
She wed David Barbour and soon wis a mother
They scooped up their faimly and moved tae the toon
At war wi’ The Kaiser, noo Glasgow wis heavin
Those dockers and workers n’er put their tools doon
Nae hooses fir a’ the crew, the landlord knew whit tae do
He hiked up the rents due to desperate demand
Brave soldiers at war away, their spouses were easy prey
But wi’ Mary up front a’ the wives took a stand
We are not Removing, we will no be payin
Yer bailiffs and factors will aye meet oor rage
Yer purse we’re no fillin’ while oor men are sent killin’
for a nation that wont pay a fair livin’ wage
The tenements buzzed wi’ the wimmin a’ plannin’
the closes and kitchens their barracks and hive
wi’ a bell sat a sentry at their territory border
Wha’d ring oot a warnin’ when the bailiff arrived
When he tried tae collect the rent fae the targetted tenement
Every wummin aroon soon wis crammed boot the door
They threw floor an’ rusty cans, their laundry and fryin pans
As he scarpered fae Govan, the wummin wid roar...
We are not Removing....
The council decided their laws would be heeded
And eighteen protestors they summoned to stand
Mary Barbour got busy and rallied the masses
10,000 marched out wi’ their placards in hand
The shipbuilders joined the crowd, wi’ engineers staunin’ proud
And threatened tae strike if the law stayed the same
The eighteen were soon released, rents frozen and decreased
The crowd were heard cheering as they made there way hame
We are not Removing....
But oor Mary Barbour hud mare tae be doin’
campaignin’ fer peace she wis aye oan the road
An’ a bold suffragette, she wis workin fer wimmin
tae bring social change an’ tae lighten their load
A first female magistrate her actions would resonate
for decades tae come as she paved a new way
free school milk fer a’ the weans, healthcare and better hames
Still making her mark since she first was heard say...
We are not Removing x2
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15. |
Broomfield Wager
05:00
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I’ll wager a wager wi’ you fair maid
five hundred merks and ten
that ye winna gang tae the bonnie broomfields
and return back a maiden again
Chorus
Leatherum thee thou and aw
madame I’m wi’ you
and the sail o’ maybe abrachee
Fair maiden I’m fer you
I’ll wager a wager wi’ you bold laird
five hundred merks and ten
that I will gang to the bonnie broomfields
and return back a maiden again
Chorus
The maid she sat at her mithers green bower
and there she made her moan
sayin’ should I gang tae the bonnie broomfields
or-should I bide safe at home
For if I gang tae the bonnie broomfields
my maidenhead is gane
But if I bide by my mithers green bower
The wager I’ll no win
Chorus
Up spak her mither a wummin wise
thrice said the young laird’s name
saying daughter gang tae the bonnie broomfields
And bring yer winnings hame
For when you gang tae the bonnie broomfields
The Laird you’ll find asleep
With a silver belt aboot his neck
and an ither aroon his feet
Chorus
And when she gaed tae the bonnie broomfields
her mither’s words proved true
found the laird asleep wi his head and his feet
mid the blossoms o’ the broom
She took a gold ring frae her belt
and placed it oan his thumb
That when he awoke and spied it there
He’d ken she’d been and gone
Nine times she walked aroon his heid
Nine times aroon his feet
Nine times she kissed his sleeping mou’
Tae mak the spell complete
Chorus
The laird awoke on the bonnie broomfields
and spied his ring-ed thumb
he kent the maid had been and gone
and the wager she had won
Oh where were you my grey goshawk
And where were you my steed
And where were you my servant lad
that didne waken me
Chorus
Oh how I beat my wings master
and pecked yer resting hands
Crying waken waken master bold
Before the maiden ran
And how I stamped my hooves master
until my bridle rang
But not a sound would waken you
Until she’d been and gang
Three times I called yer name master
Three times I blew my horn
But nothing stirred yer sleep master
Until the maid was gane
Chorus
Said the laird ‘were I awake
I woulda had my will
Then spilled her blood upon these fields
so the birds could ha’e their fill
The maiden stepped from ahind the broom
saying ‘ye black hearted ghoul!
ne’er will you leave these bonnie broomfields
afore my purse is full
Chorus
And once she spak the laird did gasp
as the silver belts grew tight
Crying ‘maiden bold, take what you’re owed
but let me live this night’
‘I’ll tak yer gold and yer bonnie broon steed
to carry me fast hame
nae bird o’ the wood can fly as fleet
as I ride through the broom
Chorus
Greetin’ oh greetin’ gaed she oot
an’ singin cam she hame
An a shawl she’ll buy fer her mither wise
Wi the winnins she did gain
Chorus
I’ll wager a wager wi you bold laird
five hundred merks and ten
that I have gane tae the bonnie broomfields
and returned back a maiden again
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16. |
Lady Grange's Lament
06:48
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O’er this cursed isle I roam
Weepin’ fer the place I lang ca’d home
Through the night I howl in the salt spray wind
But nab’dy hears my moan
Can ye fau’t me fer the whiskey?
And my scalding scowling ways?
I am Lady Grange fae Edinburgh Town
I wore satin, silk and lace
They a’ said I wis a devil
That I wis guided by my faithers hand
When my husband left wi’ his lady fair
The shame I couldne stand
Can ye fau’t me fer my scheming?
When I knew his truth tae tell?
If oor weddin’ vows he wouldne keep
I could damn Lord Grange tae hell
I could hae hime hanged fer treason
fer he wis wan o’ Charlie’s men
But my James in high places kept treacherous friends
Who conspired tae still my pen
Can ye fau’t me fer my screamin’?
As I was beaten, bruised and bound?
In the winter seventeen thirty and two
I was stolen fae Edinburgh Town
O’er two years they forced me travel
Oan the backs o’ horses I wis tied
‘Cross the glens and mountains and ocean I came
Fer on this foul rock tae bide
Can ye fau’t me fer my ragin’?
As Lord Lovet counts his gold?
He shipped me o’er the dark roarin’ sea
fer tae live like a beast in the fauld
Seven years I’ve bin oan Hirta
Where the natives dinnae speak my tongue
Midst the filth and cauld we’re forsaken by God
but still my hope lives on
Can ye fau’t me fer the letters?
That each night I send to sea?
May Heaven’s hand guide them tae dry land
and a ship come rescue me....
...Fae this cursed isle I roam - (repeat first verse repeating last line to finish)
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17. |
My Heart's My Ain
02:37
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‘Tis nae very lang sin syne
That I had a lad o’ my ain
But noo he’s awa’ with anither
And left me a’ my lane
The lass he is courtin’ has siller
and I hae nane at a’
It’s nocht but the love o’ the tocher
That’s ta’en my laddie awa’
But I’m blythe that my heart is my ane and
I’ll keep it a’ o’ my life
Until that I meet wi’ a lad wha’
has sense tae wale a guid wife
For though I say it mysel’
That should na say it is true
The lad that gets me fer a wife
He’ll ne’er hae occasion tae rue
I gang ay fu’ clean and fu’ tosh
As a’ the neibours can tell
Though I’ve seldom a gown on my back
But sic as I spin it mysel’
And when I am clad in my curchey
I think mysel’ as braw
As Susie wi’ a’ her pearlin
That’s ta’en my laddie awa’
But I wish they were buckled thegither
An’ may they live happy fer life
Though Willie does slicht me an’s left me
The chield he deserves a guid wife
But oh! I’m blythe that I’ve missed him
As blythe as I weel can be
Fer ane that’s sae keen oan the siller
Wad ne’er agree wi’ me
But as the truth is I’m hearty
I hate to be scrimpit or scant
The wee thing I hae I’ll mak use o’t
And nae ane aboot me shall want
Fer I’m a guid guide o’ the world
I ken when tae haud and tae gie
But whinging’ and cringin’ fer siller
Will ne’er agree wi’ me
Contentment is better than riches
And he wha has that has eneuch
The master is seldom sae happy
As Robin that drives the pleuch
But if a young lad would cast up
Tae mak me his partner fer life
If the chield has the sense tae be happy
He’ll fa’ on his feet fer a wife
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18. |
Kids in Woods
00:22
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19. |
Lang May Yer Lums Reek
04:12
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Here’s to the year that’s awa’
tae the joy and the sorrow we saw
through the thick and the thin
wi’ oor comrades and kin
Lang may yer lums reek ane and aw
chorus
Here’s to the year that’s awa
let’s drink it in big and in sma’
then show it the door
as we welcome wan more
and pray it be kind to us a’
chorus
Here’s to the scared and the lost
whose lives in to chaos are tossed
If these shores they should find
May we a’ keep in mind-
why-such treacherous waters they’ve crossed
chorus
here’s to the tales needing told
o’ oor heroes sae brave and sae bold
who forfeited sleep
fer their vigils to keep
as they tended oor sick and oor old
chorus
Here’s to the voices that raised
and demanded we see better days
may we stand side by side
an’ oor hope and strength bide
till the powers that be change their ways
chorus
Here’s to the year that’s awa’
tae the joy and the sorrow we saw
through the thick and the thin
wi’ oor comrades and kin
Lang may yer lums reek ane and aw
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Lainey Dempsey Glasgow, UK
Lainey is a Glasgow-based singer-songwriter and visual artist.
Since 2020, she has been involved in researching traditional
songs and stories and developing her interest in unaccompanied singing. 'Letle Telt' is the result of inspiration found through meeting and listening to traditional singers from across Ireland and the UK.
... more
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