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JOHN PATERSON'S MARE 1. The black and the brown Cam nearest the town, But Paterson's mare she came foremost; The dun and the gray Kept farthest away, But Paterson's mare she came foremost. Fy, whip her in, whip her out, Six shillings in a clout, O'er the kirk-style and away wi' her! 2. The black and the broon Gang nearest the toon, John Paterson's filly gaes foremost. The black and the grey Gang a their ain way, John Paterson's filly gaes foremost. The black and the din They fell a ahin, John Paterson's filly gaes foremost. The black and the yellow Gae up like a swallow, John Paterson's filly gaes foremost. _______________________________________________________ (1) Chambers, SSPB (1862), 60; (2) SC 57 (no.61), from Ayrshire. Described by Chambers as "a rough ballad descriptive of the confused horse-race which used to take place at all country bridals long ago, between the home of the bride's father and that of her husband", the air to which was borrowed with comic appropriateness by the writer of "The Battle of Sheriff-Muir" ("There's some say that we wan", etc.), probably written shortly after the battle (13 November 1715). Hogg says the tune was previously called She's yours, she's yours, she's nae mair ours, and to have been always played at the taking away of a bride. Henderson Berwick (1856), 106, quotes "the bridal tune" as "She's yours! She's yours!/ She's nae mair ours--/ Owre the Kirk-style/ And away wi' her!" @Scottish @kids filename[ JOHNPATR MS oct99 |
John Paterson's Mare |
