Lyr/Chords Req: Dream Angus

Subject: Words to Dream Angus
From: Anne Cormack
Date: 26 Jan 97 - 10:30 PM

I knew this song at primary school, but have forgotten some of it. The chorus starts: Dreams to sell, fine dreams to sell, Angus is here with dreams to sell.......

Subject: Lyr Add: DREAM ANGUS
From:
Date: 27 Jan 97 - 02:35 AM

DREAM ANGUS

  CHORUS:  Dreams to sell, fine dreams to sell,  
	Angus is here with dreams to sell.  
	Hush now wee bairnie and sleep without fear,  
	For Angus will bring you a dream, my dear.  
  
1.  Can you no hush your weepin'?  
    All the wee lambs are sleepin'.  
    Birdies are nestlin', nestlin' taegether,  
    Dream Angus is hurtlin' through the heather.  
  
CHORUS:  
  
2.  Sweet the lavrock sings at morn,  
    Heraldin' in a bright new dawn.  
    Wee lambs, they coorie doon taegether  
    Alang with their ewies in the heather.  
  
CHORUS:

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Words to
From: Anne Cormack
Date: 27 Jan 97 - 06:36 AM

Moira, Thanks a lot, I've been meaning to learn this again for ages. I'll give you credit when i sing it at the folk club next week!!!! (That's the Peninsula Folk Club in Perth, Western Australia.)

Cheers!!!!!!

Subject: LYRICS REQ: Dream Angus
From:
Date: 22 Aug 97 - 04:26 PM

Hello,

I have a lovely recording of this song; it's performed by Gill Bowman and is found on a Greentrax sampler. My problem is that my American ears can't discern all of the words, especially the "Scotticisms." Can anyone help?

Thanks very much!

Claire K.

Subject: RE: LYRICS REQ: Dream Angus
From: Claire K.
Date: 22 Aug 97 - 04:42 PM

Ah, never mind, I answered my own question. Finally figured out how to do a proper Forum search! 8-) And there were the very words I was looking for.

Claire K.

Subject: RE: Words to "Dream Angus"
From: Felipa
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 05:50 PM

hurtlin' I know as hirplin, as Malcolm Douglas has mentioned on another thread. A Gaelic-language lullaby with the same tune as Dream Angus is usually sung to can be found at >George Seto's website

are there stories about 'Dream Angus'?

Subject: RE: Words to "Dream Angus"
From: Felipa
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 06:14 PM

there are loads of references to Dream Angus on the web
I didn't look at all of them, but I did find a story at the
Tannahill weavers' site: http://members.aol.com/tannahills2/lyrics/1067lyr5.htm
"A song from Ross to finish the side. A classic, almost fairy tale lyric wherein the fine young clan chief is slain in battle. Dream Angus is the Scottish "sandman" who comes 'round at night to help the children off to sleep. Unlike other countries' sandmen, Angus brings with him a bottle of whisky. If the child is not fast asleep by the time the whisky is finished, he wallops them over the head with the empty bottle"

for the tune (though I didn't listen to any)
mp3 Kaye: www.polopop.com/kaye/sleEP/dreamangus/
real audio Elspeth Cowie; http://www.footstompin.com/music/scottish_song/naked_voice/tracks/obj701
score based on Dream Angus; http://fagus-music.members.easyspace.com/composers/geaac/ga_da.htm

Subject: RE: Words to "Dream Angus"
From: Felipa
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 06:24 PM

Why isn't there a DT link at the top of this page?

http://www.themediadrome.com/content/poetry/churchill_dream_angus.htm attributes to George Churchill
others say the song is traditional
If you have further information, please add it here

Subject: RE: Words to "Dream Angus"
From: Cluin
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 06:55 PM

Got another verse for this one...

hear the curlews cryin'
yonder the echo's dyin'
even the birds and beasties are sleepin'
but my bonny babe is weepin'

You can hear some good friends of mine, Linda Miller & Nathan Curry performing a really nice version of this song (with the above verse included) at this here site, right here.

On their album "Land of Light", the Tannahill Weavers tagged on this tune as an pipe instrumental after the song "Yellow Haired Laddie". That's what the above blurb is in reference to.

Subject: RE: Words to "Dream Angus"
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 06:59 PM

For that extra verse, see my post referred to earlier (and now also quoted at the top of this page).

Those links are not automatic, Felipa; they have to be added manually. It's there now.

There is a midi of the tune at Mudcat Midis:   Dream Angus (midi)

There's also a link to it from the DT file: DREAM ANGUS

It would be nice to have some more information on the song. It doesn't appear in the usual indexes, and I really don't think that the lyric is of any significant age.

It's worth mentioning that "A song from Ross to finish the side. A classic, almost fairy tale lyric wherein the fine young clan chief is slain in battle" (above) refers to the song The Yellow Haired Laddie (which isn't either of the usual songs of that name), not to Dream Angus.

Subject: Chord Req: Dream Angus
From: GUEST,Duncan
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 01:27 PM

Can anyone help me here. I don't have the musical know-how to work out the chords, but would love to be able to play this lovely song. I have a right good look through digitrad without success. Sorry if I'm missed and am being thick

thanking you

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Dream Angus
From: Jim McLean
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 02:30 PM

I play it in A flat. Use A flat and D flat where it's obvious and sometimes E flat.
(A flat)'Can ye no hush yer (D flat)weep (Aflat)in' All the wee lambs are sleep(D flat)in'
(back to A flat) Birdies are nest (D flat)lin', (back to A flat)nestlin' the (E flat) gither,(A flat) Dream Angus is (D flat)hirplin ower the (A flat)heather

(A flat)Dreams to sell, fine (Dflat)dreams to(A flat) sell
Angus is here wi' dreams to sell. (D flat)O
(A flat)Hush ye my baby and sleep without (E flat)fear
(A flat) Dream Angus has (D flat) brought you a dream my (A flat)dear.

This is very simple but more interesting chords could no doubt be put in.
PS Do you notice the start of the song is identical to Mull of Kintyre?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dream Angus
From: GUEST,terryd
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 01:17 PM

Dreams to sell, fine dreams to sell
D          Em    G             D
Angus has brought ye fine dreams to sell
Bm          D         Bm             D
Hush now my baby and sleep without fear
Bm          D         F#m          Em
Dream Angus has brought you a dream my dear
      D          Em            G       D

Subject: Lyr Add: NAM BU LEAM FHÌN THU THÀLAIDHINN THU
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 11:16 PM

The above link to "George Seto's web site" is now dead, but I think this must be the song that was there. I think it's the older traditional lullaby whose tune was used for DREAM ANGUS.

From "The Songs of the Gael" by Henry Whyte ("Fionn") in The Old Highlands: Being Papers Read before the Gaelic Society of Glasgow 1895-1906 (Glasgow: Archibald Sinclair, 1908), page 343, where it appears with musical notation for one voice:

The following Tàladh or croon is said to have been sung by a kind-hearted fairy who, calling at a house, found a child lying in its cradle, its mother having apparently deserted it. The Gaelic words are a little irregular in measure, but a little acquaintance with the melody will enable one to sing them. The translation is a somewhat free one, but gives a good idea of the rhythm of the melody:—


TALADH.

1. Nam bu leam fhìn thu thàlaidhinn thu,
Nam bu leam fhìn thu thalaidhinn thu,
Nam bu leam fhìn thu
Dheanainn do bhrìodal,
A thasgaidh mo chrìdh' gu'n tàlaidhinn thu.

CHORUS: Thàladhainn thu, gu'n tàladhainn thu,
Thàladhainn thu, gu'n tàladhainn thu,
Dean cadal mo leanabh,
'S mo ghaol agad cheana,
A chagair mo chrìdh', gu'n tàlaidhinn thu.

2. Chunnaic mi seachad mu'n taca so 'n dé
Duine mór foghainteach, làidir, treun,
Le 'bhogha 's le shaighead,
Le 'sgaith is le chlaidheamh;
'S mòr m' eagal gu'n tachair do mhàthair ris.


TALADH.
(A Fairy Croon)

1. Wert thou mine own I'd fondle thee,
Wert thou mine own I'd fondle thee,
Wert thou my ain dearie,
Nae ill would come near thee,
My heart's dearest treasure, I'd fondle thee.

CHORUS: Fondle thee, yes, fondle thee,
Fondle thee, yes, fondle thee,
O sleep noo my lammie,
Ne'er fash for your mammie,
My bonnie wee lammie, I'll fondle thee.

2. Yestre'en at the gloamin', as I heard say,
A bonnie braw gallant gaed by this way,
Wi' bow and wi' arrow,
Wi' sword keen and narrow;
I'm feared that your minnie's wi' him away.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dream Angus
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 02:36 PM

Thanks for reviving this thread. I've downloaded the MIDI linked by Malcolm Douglas. I think it will make a nice addition to my flute and dulcimer tunes.

I fear that whoever originall wrote "The following Tàladh or croon is said to have been sung by a kind-hearted fairy who, calling at a house, found a child lying in its cradle, its mother having apparently deserted it," was far too trusting and did not know much about fairies.

Why were the fairies called "The Good People"? They were called the Good People because they were bad. They were feared because they loved to cause trouble.

Telling a baby that its mother has deserted it when in fact the mother has merely gone off on an errand is typical of fairy malice. Actually, the hard-pressed mother has probably left the room briefly to punch down the bread dough or to get a four-year-old child out of a tree.

Disney, et all, had fairies all wrong.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dream Angus
From:
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 08:12 PM

yes, Geocities is gone, I'm having to re-do everything. Haven't had a chance to finish. Will probably be dark winter's nights projects

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dream Angus
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Mar 23 - 06:14 PM

cleanup work required

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dream Angus
From: Sol
Date: 28 Mar 23 - 05:36 PM

We play it like this. (I'm not saying it's correct though).

“Dream Angus”
                                                                     
(C) Dreams to (Dm) sell, fine (F)dreams to (C)sell
(C) Angus is (Em)comin’ wi’ (Fmaj7) dreams to (C) sell
(C)Hush noo my (Em)bairnie, (Fmaj7) sleep without (G7)fear
(C)Angus will (Dm) bring you a (F) dream, my (C)dear

Can ye no hush your weepin’ o
A’ the wee lambs are sleepin’ o
Birdies are nestlin’, nestlin’ together
Dream Angus is hirplin’ through the heather

Sweet the lav’rock sings at morn
Heraldin’ in a bright new dawn
Wee lambs, they coorie doon together
Along with the ewies in the heather

List tae the curlew’s cryin’ o
Faint are the echoes, dyin’ o
Even the birds and beasties are sleepin’
But my bonny bairnie is weepin’ weepin’

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dream Angus
From: Felipa
Date: 28 Mar 23 - 06:21 PM

I mentioned some years back that the Dream Angus lyrics are attributed to George Churchill.

Here is different attribution:
"Like many Scottish children, I was brought up with this one. The words and melody imply that this is not a very ancient song; probably written about 1850 to 1890 or thereabouts. Certainly, my grandmother who was born in 1894 was sung Dream Angus by her mother, despite their first language being Gaelic. There are loads of little variations on the words, but the song remains essentially the same. My mother assumed it was her father in the title role, as his name was Angus. This is an ideal opportunity to personalise a song, inserting the name of your child into the chorus.

"A recent correspondent, Dr Donalda Smith, wrote "My mother (born 1905) always told me that the words were written by her cousin, Mary Fraser, who lived at that time in Edinburgh. It was performed by the Glasgow Orpheus Choir under Sir Hugh Roberton, and was a favourite with them." She goes on to mention that her mother was younger than Mary Smith and died shortly after World War I."
~ ~ Christina Stewart https://www.kistodreams.org/dreamangus.asp