Lyr Req: Tak Me Back Tae Cove / A Song of Cove

Subject: A Song of Cove
From: Murpholly
Date: 21 Feb 15 - 05:27 AM

A friend of Scottish origin (Cove just outside Aberdeen) has forgotten the words of a song he used to sing and has searched widely for it. Can anyone out there help. It was sung by Harry Gordon, "The Laird of Inversnecky" and I have found a trace on a musical archive in Glasgow but cannot access that without a trip up there. (Rather a long way to go) The following is all I have at the moment

Oh tak me back tae Cove, tak me back tae Cove
Far the air is as stron as can be.

This apparently refers to the smell from the fish oil factory. Can anyone out there help.

Subject: RE: A Song of Cove
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Oct 15 - 10:35 AM

I stay in cove but from Glasgow.
Here's the song   can buy it ☺https://open.spotify.com/artist/3UQkeXnT7rKYtIgADbrz3Z

Also on amazon.

Subject: RE: A Song of Cove
From: Murpholly
Date: 18 Oct 15 - 05:18 AM

Thank you guest. A friend in Scotland had tracked the song down for me and I have already bought a C.D. with it on. Our friend was in tears when we gave it to him bringing back many memories of his youthful days and singing around the highlands.

Subject: Lyr Add: TAK ME BACK TAE COVE (Harry Gordon)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Oct 15 - 08:05 AM

Here's my transcription from Spotify. Note there are some gaps and uncertainties. And of course, your spelling may differ.


TAK ME BACK TAE COVE (A SONG OF COVE)
As recorded by Harry Gordon on "Golden Memories: Pre-War Entertainers from North-East Scotland" (2008).

Some may sing o Tennessee and some o Alabam,
But I've nae use for places whar ye canna get a dram.
They can keep their Salt Lake City and their Ohio(?),
For gin I need a change o air, I ken the spot to go:

Aye, tak me back tae Cove; tak me back tae Cove,
For the air is as strong as can be,
For you only need one guff
To feel you've had enough
By the side o the silvery sea.

Tak me back tae Cove; tak me back tae Cove,
For the air is as strong as can be,
And if Winston knew the facts,
Yon's an export he would tax,
By the side o the silvery sea.

Some are keen on Banchory and ithers on Braemar,
For they say the western air's the healthiest by far,
But that's whit maks me stick to my resort wi greater zest,
For aye when I gan sooth tae Cove, I feel that I've gone west.

So tak me back tae Cove; tak me back tae Cove,
For the air is as strong as can be.
Even your wife is dumb
In yon effluvium
By the side o the silvery sea.

Tak me back tae Cove; tak me back tae Cove,
For the air is as strong as can be,
And a skunk that passed that way
Drapped doon deid frae jealousy
By the side o the silvery sea.

Now nae so very lang ago I dreamt that I was deid,
And Auld Nick came to meet me wi the horns upon his heid.
He says: "We've been expecting ye; jist come awa inside,"
But whin I saw my rooms I said: "If that's where I've tae bide—

"Oh, tak me back tae Cove; tak me back tae Cove,
For the air is as strong as can be."
Auld Nick says: "Please yoursel,
But I couldna stand yon smell
By the side o the silvery sea."

Tak me back tae Cove; tak me back tae Cove,
For the air is as strong as can be,
When the folks out there need cheese
They cut bitties aff the breeze
By the side o the silvery sea.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tak Me Back Tae Cove / A Song of Cove
From: GUEST,#
Date: 19 Oct 15 - 08:18 AM

Jim, thanks to your Salt Lake City line I found the following:

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/4764515/watt-a-life-billwattcom/55

Page 55 has the start of the lyrics but I don't know how to get to p 56.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tak Me Back Tae Cove / A Song of Cove
From: GUEST,Bruce
Date: 10 Aug 17 - 09:01 AM

I grew up in Cove. I think it's worth noting that the fish meal factory which made the such a stink was situated right next to the rail line heading south from Aberdeen. So anybody visiting from the south would get a lungful as they went past.

The ruins of the factory are still there and we're a fantastic (and dangerous) playground for me and my friends in the 80's

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tak Me Back Tae Cove / A Song of Cove
From: leeneia
Date: 10 Aug 17 - 12:14 PM

It's a good song - a refreshing change from murder ballads and tales of unrequited love. Give it a tune, a few words of explanation about the factory, and it would make an entertaining ditty for the Highland Games.

Thanks, all.