Lyr Req: Skippin Barfit through the Heather

Subject: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From:
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 11:39 AM

I'm trying to find the lyrics to "skippin' barfit through the heather". It was recorded by Alison McMorland in 1970s on an album called "Belt wi' colours three" and was also described by Norman Buchan as "the most delicate fragile beautiful melody he'd ever heard. Can anyone help??

Andy

Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: Wolfgang
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 11:55 AM

Could it be related to QUEEN AMONG THE HEATHER?

Wolfgang

Subject: Lyr Add: SKIPPIN' BARFIT THROUGH THE HEATHER
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 02:49 PM

Other versions and related songs on the database:

Amongst the Heather
Heather on the Moor
Doon the Moor (two versions)

Alison McMorland learnt her version from Jessie Murray of Buckie, who sang it at the first Edinburgh People's Festival in 1951.  Here it is (taken from Ailie Munro's The Folk Music Revival in Scotland):

As I was walkin' doon yon hill
It was in a summer evenin',
It was there I spied a bonny lass
Skippin' barfit through the heather.

Eh but she was neatly dressed,
She neither needed hat nor feather;
She was the queen among them a',
Skippin' barfit through the heather.

"Will ye come wi' me, my bonny lass,
Will ye come wi' me and leave the heather?
It's silks an' satins ye will wear
If ye come wi' me and leave the heather."

She wore a goon o' bonnie blue,
Her petticoats were a pheasant colour,
And in between the stripes were seen
Shinin' bells o' bloomin' heather.

"Oh young man your offer's good,
But sae weel I ken ye will deceive me:
But gin ye tak my hert awa'
Better if I had never seen ye."

Oh but she was neatly dressed,
She neither needed hat nor feather;
She was the queen among them a',
Skippin' barfit through the heather.
^^
Malcolm

Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 00 - 05:46 AM

Malcolm, Thanks v. much for the lyrics and the background info. I think Jessie Murray was also the woman that Norman Buchan was quoted about. I've heard a lot about the People's Festival ceilidhs (comments from Hamish Henderson etc.). I also heard a bit from it on Radio Scotland once. Do recordings of them exist??

Andy

Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 10:48 PM

G'day,
Thanks to Malcolm the tune for "Skippin' Barfit Through The Heather" can be found here at the Mudcat MIDI site.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 11:23 PM

I believe this was the title of Jean Redpath's first album....

Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 01:45 AM

Bill D is correct. I still have the LP.

Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 01:52 AM

Sorry, I'm repeating myself. See two earlier threads on 'heather on the moor' for some early history.