Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)

Subject: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: John
Date: 12 Jun 98 - 03:01 PM

I need the lryics to a song I believe is called Coshieville, I know Archie Fisher has done this song, but I can't make out all the lyrics. Can anyone help? Thanks!!!!

Subject: RE: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: JESTER!
Date: 13 Jun 98 - 06:50 AM

The song you refer to is on "Man with a rhyme". The company told me 4 years ago it was about to come out on cd. I guess it hasn't. The cassette version I have somewhere came with a lyric booklette, which I'm trying to track down. If you were willing to type in what you think you hear, I could probably fill in the blanks...will try to find my lyric book...JESTER!

Subject: Lyr Add: COSHIEVILLE (from Archie Fisher)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jun 98 - 01:13 PM

^^
COSHIEVILLE
©Stuart MacGregor
(notes from Archie Fisher’s "The Man With a Rhyme" Folk-Legacy CD-61)

Stuart MacGregor was a poet, songwriter, and novelist, and no mean singer and raconteur. He was there at the "beginning" in Edinburgh. His poetry was deeply rooted in our folksong, and the transition to songwriting enriched the repertoires of his friends and, as time as shown, the music and literature of the country he so dearly loved.
Coshieville is a hamlet not far from Aberfeldy which is known as the "Gateway to the Highlands." The song is set in the time of the building of our hydro-electric dams, an era that changed many parts of the West Highlands and the hearts of some of the girls the workers left behind.

The west winds blow to Coshieville,
And with the winds came we,
And where the river hugs the wood
And blackthorns bloom in May, there stood
A single rowan tree,
So young and tender -- so were you.
I loved you both as there you grew,
The day I took the road that leads
By Rannoch to the sea.

We carved our names in Coshieville;
The rowan leaves were still.
But the darkening west was in your eyes;
Despite your kisses and my lies,
My thoughts had crossed the hill.
I broke your heart as the minutes passed,
For I shrugged and said that nothing lasts,
But many’s the backwards glance I cast
As I went north to the drill.

The big wheels rumble up and down,
The lorries know the way.
I waved my hand, I hitched a ride.
We crossed the bridge at Rannochside
Where the diesel motors play.
Then I set myself to a cliff of stone,
My ears to the boring hammer’s drone,
And the ache inside I rued alone,
For you were far away.

But the money moved from Erichts Loch
And the Great Glen beckoned on.
At Norriston the hills grew pale,
And we fought and drank through old Kintail,
Till our money soon was gone.
Then I cursed Loch Aweside’s autumn rain,
And the winter whisky in Dunblane,
Till the west winds rose in the spring again
And my heart leapt at its song.

And I came at night to Coshieville,
With a dozen hills aflame.
You had another hand to hold;
Beneath the names we carved of old
There was another name.
You looked me through, you made no sign.
I drank the cup of bitter wine,
For well we knew the fault was mine,
And I went the road I came.

I hadn't taken the time to familiarize myself with this song until the lyrics request was posted. It certainly is a pretty one. The album is available from Folk-Legacy Records. Every song on the album is a gem.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: John
Date: 15 Jun 98 - 09:27 AM

Thank you very much!!!!!!!! I already know how to play this, so with these lryics I'll be singing it today! Thanks!!!!

Subject: Thanks Joe, and Jester
From: John
Date: 15 Jun 98 - 10:12 AM

This was my first attempt to find lyrics here. I love that song, it was the names of the towns that had me second-guessing. Thanks Again !!!!! I hope I can do the same for someone sometime. I'll be checking this place often now! John M.

Subject: RE: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 03 - 04:02 PM

John, I just stumbled across this... my first visit to mudcat! What a treasure trove for folk fans. Would you mind sharing the chords and/or tuning for coshieville?

Thanks!

Jim Colbert

Subject: RE: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 07 Jan 03 - 04:07 PM

Hey Jim... Yer pretty quick!

Membership has it's rewards! and it's a steal at twice the price!

LOL

Subject: RE: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: Shonagh
Date: 07 Jan 03 - 05:38 PM

Archie Fisher is playing tomorrow night at No. 17, Castlegate, Aberdeen. Should be good, I'll let you know how it goes as im going, really excited. last time i heard him was about 4am in a pub in Plockton with a bit too much whisky flowing! Maybe with a bit of luck he'll sing coshieville tomorrow night!

Shonagh

Subject: RE: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: Hrothgar
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 04:27 AM

Heard Paul Lawler (Rich-joy's mate) sing this at a concert at the National Folk Festival in 1981. Loved it ever since - it's a beautifully crafted thing, isn't it?

Subject: RE: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: Jim Colbert
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 03:44 PM

It is a lovely song... I wish Archie played in the States more frequently. I did have the chance to see him at the Philly folk festival once, accompanied by the wonderously talented Garnet Rogers.

So if he plays it again, can you at least maybe notice if it's standard tuning or dadgad?

graci!

(and yeah, clinton, to my employer's chagrin I, ahem, spent a little time here yesterday afternoon...)

Subject: RE: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 03:54 PM

Welcome to the fray Jim!

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: Strupag
Date: 09 Jan 03 - 10:09 AM

Havn't seen the big man for years. Here in Scotland we can hear him event week present "Travelling Folk" but it's only rarely we get the chanced to hear Erch sing.
"Coshie" is my second favourite song that he does. It's closely behind "Bogie's Bonnie Belle"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville, Archie Fisher
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 03 - 10:15 AM

Jester: "Man With the Rhyme" is available on CD from Mudcatter Sandy Patton's Folk-Legacy label.

Subject: Lyr Add: COSHIEVILLE (Stuart MacGregor)
From: GUEST,Val Speed
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 04:57 PM

COSHIEVILLE by Stuart MacGregor

The west winds blow to Coshieville
And with the winds came we
And where the river hugs the wood
And blackthorns bloom in spring
There stood a single rowan tree
So young and slender, so were you
I loved you both as there you grew
The day I took the road that leads by Rannoch to the sea.

I carved your name at Coshieville
The rowan leaves stood still
The westering sun was in your eyes,
Despite your kisses and my lies
My thoughts had crossed the hill,
I broke your heart as the minutes passed
I smiled and said that nothing lasts
But many's the backward glance I cast
as I went North to the drill

The big wheels rumble up and down,
The lorries know the way,
I raised my hand, I hitched a ride
We crossed the bridge at Rannochside
Where the diesel engines play,
I cursed Lochaweside's autumn rain,
The winter whisky in Dunblane,
Till the west wind blew in the spring again
and my heart leapt at its song.

I came at night to Coshieville
A dozen hills aflame.
You had another hand to hold
Beneath the names we carved of old
There was another name.
You looked me through, you made no sign
I drank the cup of bitter wine,
But well I knew the fault was mine
and I went the way I came.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From:
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 08:41 PM

Youtube has someone doing a cover of Coshieville

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: cptsnapper
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 12:01 AM

Maggie Holland sings it on her album " Bones "

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 08:06 AM

I think it should be "at Moriston the hills grew pale", meaning Invermoriston, where one might leave the Great Glen en route to Kintail.
    Coshieville is in Perthshire if I remember rightly, near Aberfeldy.
    Amazingly, I have only ever heard it performed once, on the radio by Archie Fisher.

Subject: Lyr Add: SANDY BELL'S MAN (Stuart MacGregor)
From: eddie1
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 10:00 AM

The late Stuart MacGregor was also responsible for Sandy Bell's Man, perhaps not so well-known outside Scotland.

Eddie



SANDY BELL'S MAN
(Stuart MacGregor)
Chorus:
My father's name was Harry
My mother's name was Anne
Come sit beside me come dry all my tears
I've been wronged by a Sandy Bell's Man

The month it was May and the lilac smelt sweet
I was strolling one evening round town
When I met a young maid over Morningside way
And she sobbed as she hung her head down
I see by your scarf of the scarlet and gold
An Edinburgh medic are you
Come sit beside me come hear my sad tale
It concerns a young medic like you

When I was sixteen I was spotless and clean
I had never tasted a drop
I met a young medic whose name it was Derek
He took me into that bad shop
And there o' the nips o' the whisky and gin
I verily drank my fill
My father he shot himself over my shame
And my mother he likewise did kill

One morning in haste to my lover I raced
And to him these same words I did say
My darling I think that next summer or spring
An arrival is coming our way
The whites of his eyes grew wide with surprise
As the eyes of a young father will
But when I called round at his digs the next day
He had caught the first plane for Brazil

So come all ye virgins of Edinburgh city
Although ye be ever so few
Come sit beside me come hear my sad tale
It concerns young maidens like you
Beware take warning before ye be burned
Fatal not yet is the hour
The next time a medico glances your way
Be content with a hot and cold shower

(as sung by Liz & Maggie Cruickshank)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: Irene M
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 10:26 AM

And also the glorious Southside Blues and The Presence!

WHAT a writer.

Check out Sunsets I Have Galloped Into.(on Greentrax)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: OldFolkie
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:20 AM

Hugh

Yes Coshieville is just North of Aberfeldy en route Northward to Loch Rannoch. Having said that, if you blink you miss the village - it's just a few houses on a junction. Having been determined to find the village, I nearly missed it!

Interesting your note about Moriston - I have always sung 'Noriston'!
Could be right!

Beautiful song. Haven't sung it at any of our local folk clubs for ages - must 'bring it out of the bag again'.

A couple of years ago, over a couple of visits to Scotland, my wife and I found ourselves visiting most of the places mentioned. For me, it adds to the song if you can picture the places the writer mentions.

For the record, The McCalmans also did it some years ago (I think it was on their album 'Scottish Songs, back before Derek Moffat sadly died), with Nick Keir doing the vocals, if I remember rightly.

Superb song

OF

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: GUEST,Connie
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 05:40 AM

Can anyone tell me when Stuart MacGregor died, please?
His novel "The Sinner" has been a favourite of mine since I bought it on publication - it evokes the atmosphere/sound/smell of 60's Edinburgh perfectly - huge nostalgia for my student days!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: GUEST,Connie
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 10:24 AM

By trawling the internet, I have answered my own question re when Stuart MacGregor died - it was in 1973.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 08:25 PM

Stuart MacGregor wrote another novel which seemed to capture what the '60s folk-scene in Edinburgh must have been like - "The Myrtle and Ivy" has a central character who is a medical student and singer trying to make his mark on the folk world. I must have picked the book up round about the time he died, and puzzled for a long time who the author might be, assuming that somebody connected enough to portray the folk scene in so much detail would still be active in some way. A couple of years after, John Barrow (of the Edinburgh folk agency Stoneyport) sang "A Sandy Bell's Man" on a visit to Dave Walter's Lytham Folk Club. I quizzed him afterwards about the song, which I remembered from the book, and he told me of Stuart MacGregor's death. He also mentioned that there was another novel, but I have not been able to track that down. Perhaps "The Sinner" is the one he was talking about?

I just found a copy on Amazon - several copies out there if anyone's interested!

Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: GUEST,Tom
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 08:55 PM

I have a copy of Stuart MacGregor's "The Myrtle and Ivy" which I picked up in a charity shop in Morningside a few years ago, and which appears to have a dedication from the author in it, to a Bob and Nancy - does anyone know who Bob and Nancy might be? I don't know enough about the Sandy Bell's/folk scene in the 50s and 60s to be able to make a guess, but I suspect they may have been participants in the scene.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: GUEST,melvyn meades
Date: 06 May 09 - 04:49 PM

There is an extremely rare documentary on Hugh MacDiarmid, made in the early 70's that includes footage and soundbites from Stuart, on the 'cosmic range' of MacDiarmid's work.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 05:17 PM

Please could anyone tell me where I could get a copy of this documentary? I am a relative of Stuarts and would very much like to see it. Can anyone help?

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 17 Jun 09 - 07:25 PM

Googling "Hugh MacDiarmid documentary" produced a few things

"No Fellow Travellers"


"Hugh MacDiarmid: a portrait"


ditto, with exerpt


10 results from Scottish Screen Archive


Adding "Stuart MacGregor" only produced an obituary of Hamish Henderson, mentioning each separately.


No mention of documentaries in the Wikipedia entry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: GUEST,Someone
Date: 13 May 17 - 10:51 AM

To everyone calling him "McGregor" it's actually MacGregor with an mac

[Corrections have been made by a Mudelf. Also corrected “Stewart” to “Stuart.”]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 13 May 17 - 12:26 PM

And Stuart with a u! Pulling various snippets together: here is more about Stuart MacGregor. Nancy (see post above) might have been Nancy Nicolson possibly. I first heard this song syng by "North Sea Gas".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_MacGregor

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 13 May 17 - 03:58 PM

I think Jean Redpath probably recorded this? She certainly sang it as Summer School in Stirling, and knew Stuart (at Uni in Edinburgh?)
It is a lovely and sad song.

Subject: Lyr Add: COSHIEVILLE (Stuart MacGregor)
From: GUEST,Jan Hauenstein
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 11:37 AM

Coshieville    Stuart MacGregor

(G) The west winds blow to Coshieville,
(C) And with the winds came (G)we,
And (D7)where the river (G)hugs the wood
And (C)blackthorns bloom in (G)May, there stood
A (D)single rowan (D7)tree,
So (C)young and tender - (G)so were you.
I (D7)loved you both as (G)there you grew,
The (C)day I took the (G)road that leads
By (D)Rannoch (D7)to the (G)sea. (C)

We (G)carved our names in Coshieville,
The (C)rowan leaves were (G)still.
But the (D7)darkening west was (G)in your eyes,
De(C)spite your kisses (G)and my lies,
My (D)thoughts had crossed the (D7)hill.
I (C)broke your heart as the (G)minutes passed,
For I (D7)shrugged and said that (G)nothing lasts,
But (C)many’s the backwards (G)glance I cast
As I (D)went north (D7)to the (G)drill. (C)

The (G)big wheels rumble up and down,
The (C)lorries know the (G)way.
I (D7)waved my hand, I (G)hitched a ride.
We (C)crossed the bridge at (G)Rannochside
Where the (D)diesel motors (D7)play.
Then I (C)set myself to a (G)cliff of stone,
My (D7)ears to the boring (G)hammer’s drone,
And the (C)ache inside I (G)rued alone,
For (D)you were (D7)far a(G)way. (C)

But the (G)money moved from Erichts Loch
And the (C)Great Glen beckoned (G)on.
At (D7)Norriston the (G)hills grew pale,
And we (C) fought and drank through (G)old Kintail,
Till our (D)money soon was (D7)gone.
Then I (C)cursed Loch Aweside’s (G)autumn rain,
And the (D7)winter whisky (G)in Dunblane,
Till the (C)west winds rose in the (G)spring again
And my (D)heart leapt (D7)at its (G)song. (C)

And I (G)came at night to Coshieville,
With a (C)dozen hills a(G)flame.
You (D7)had another (G)hand to hold,
Be(C)neath the names we (G)carved of old
There (D)was another (D7)name.
You (C)looked me through, you (G)made no sign.
I (D7)drank the cup of (G)bitter wine,
For (C)well we knew the (G)fault was mine,
And I (D)went the (D7)road I (C)came. (G) (G4)(G)

© Stuart MacGregor, All Rights Reserved

This is Archie Fisher’s version. Capo 3rd fret to play along with Mr. Fisher.

[e-mail]

www.janhauenstein.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Jan 19 - 04:14 AM

Pleased to see the second half of verse three added, together with fist half of verse 4 !
And I have always sung At Morriston !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 27 Jan 19 - 01:23 PM

Just noticed Trish's suggestion rr Bob and Nancy...not sure when Nancy Nicolson and Deness Morton married but i think it wouldve been late 60s /early 70s? I'll as as she would gave been an Embry /Sandy Bells folkie at that time.... as i was nyself however i can barely remember a thing!! - perhaps Iain Green's (Greentrax) generation might know?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: rich-joy
Date: 27 Jan 19 - 05:35 PM

As mentioned by Hrothgar in his post of 08Jan03 :
Paul Lawler's concert version of "Coshieville" (and more), has finally been put up on YT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kGADIvdG_c

ENJOY!!
R-J (Down Under)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coshieville (Archie Fisher)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 19 - 12:07 PM

lovely version by Davie Craig (musical partner of Rab Noakes many years ago) did a fine version on a LP many years ago with a country slant & a great title-'From Coshieville to Margaritaville'.
Never put on CD but worth a listen if you can find a copy...