Lyr Req: Inverey / The Baron o' Brackley

Subject: Words for Inverey
From: Lisa
Date: 17 Feb 97 - 11:49 AM

Does anyone have the words for this song? It seems to be about some sort of ambush by one clan on another, having to do with a dispute over cattle. I would appreciate any info. on this history as well. Thanks a bunch!

Subject: RE: Words for
From: LaMarca
Date: 17 Feb 97 - 01:44 PM

I think you're looking for a ballad called "The Baron of Brackley"; it should be in the DT database. It's a classic Scots border ballad of lust, betrayal and cattle rustling...

Subject: ADD Version: Baron o' Brackley / Inverey
From: Anne Cormack
Date: 17 Feb 97 - 09:52 PM

Lisa, I think it's the Baron o' Brackley too - here it is..

1.
Doon Deeside cam' Inveray, whistlin' an' playin',
An' he was at Brackley's yetts as the day was dawin',
Says "Baron o' Brackley, Oh are ye within?
There are shairp swords doon at your yetts will gar your bleed spin."

2.
"Oh rise up my baron and turn back your kye,
For the lads frae Dumwharran are driving them by."
"Oh how can I rise up or turn them again,
For whaur I hae ae man, I'm sure they hae ten."

3.
"Gin I had a husband as I wat I hae nane,
He widna lie in his bed an' watch his kye ta'en."
Then up got the baron, says, "Gie me my gun,
For I will gyang oot love, tho' I'll never win in."

4.
When Brackley was buskit an' rade ower the closs,
A gallanter baron ne'er lap tae a horse;
"Come kiss me my Peggy, nor think I'm tae blame,
I weel may go oot, love, but I'll never win hame."

5.
There cam' wi' fause Inveray thirty and three,
There was nane wi' bonny Brackley but his brother and he.
Twa gallanter Gordons did never sword draw,
But against three an' thirty, wae's me, what is twa?

6.
Wi' swords an' wi' daggers they did him surroun',
And they've pierced bonny Brackley wi' mony's the woun',
Frae the heid o' the Dee tae the banks o' the Spey,
The Gordons shall mourn him and ban Inverey.

7.
"Oh cam' ye by Brackley's yetts, or was ye in there,
Or saw ye his Peggy a-rivin' her hair?"
"Oh I cam' by Brackley's yetts, an' I was there,
An' I saw his pretty Peggy - she was makin' gude cheer."

8.
She was rantin' an' dancin' an' singin' for joy,
An' vowin' that on that nicht she would feast Inveray,
She drank wi' him, laughed wi' him, welcomed him ben,
She kept him till morning wha had slain her gude man.

9.
There's grief in the kitchen but there's mirth in the ha',
For the Baron o' Brackley is deid an' awa'.
But up spak his son on the nurse's knee,
"Gin I live tae be a man, it's revenged I'll be."

Anne

Subject: RE: Words for
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Feb 97 - 10:36 PM

I am embarrassed..I have had this Jean Redpath record for 30 years with 'Inverey' on it, and have tried occasionally to translate the dialect....yesterday I had NO copies of the words, now I have 3! (so, LaMarca...you ARE going to refrain from rubbing it in this weekend, aren't you?? You have SO many boxes to be moved!! *smile*)

I know, I could have searched on 'Inverey' and found it! I'm still getting used to having this resource available. (I even have the DOS version on my hard disk, but I have to re-learn the DOS commands every time I use it...but it WILL play the tunes to a lot of the songs. Folkies owe a HUGE debt to Dick G. and Susan and Dennis & several others for this! Thanks, guys!!

Subject: Lyric Add: Inverey (Hall and MacGregor)
From: Genie
Date: 23 Nov 08 - 10:26 PM

This is the version, called "Inverey," from Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor's "Two Heids Are Better Than Yin" album. (Robin sang it.)

It's a bit shorter than some other versions.   Anyway I'm kind of partial to this version.

=====

INVEREY
(as recorded by Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor
Album: Two Heids Are Better Than Yin, 1962)

Doon Deeside cam' Inverey whistlin' and playin'

And he was at Brackley's yetts ere the day was dawin'.
"Oh, are ye there, Brackley, and are ye within? 

There's shairp swords are at your yetts, will gar your bluid spin."

"Then rise up, my baron, and turn back your kye,

For the lads fae Drumwharron are driving them by."
"Oh how can I rise up and how can I gang?
For where I hae a man I am sure they hae ten."


"Then rise up, Betsy Gordon, and gie me my gun,
And tho I gang oot, love, sure I'll never return.
Come, kiss me, my Betsy, nor think I'm tae blame,

But against three and thirty, wae is me what is ain."

When Brackley was mounted and he rade on his horse,
A bonnier baron ne'er rade ower a course.
Twa gallanter Gordons did never sword draw,
"But against three and thirty, wae is me what is twa."

Wi' their dirks an' their swords they did him surroond.

They've killed bonny Brackley wi' monys the wound.
Fae the heid o' the Dee, tae the sides of the Spey

The Gordons will mourn him and bann Inverey.

"Oh come ye by Brackley or come ye by here?

Saw ye his guid lady a-tearin' her hair?"
"Oh I come by Brackley's yetts and I come by here

And I saw his guid lady, she was makin' good cheer.

"She was rantin' an' dancin' an' singin' for joy.

She vowed that very night she would feast Inverey!

She laughed wi' him, danced wi' him, welcomed him ben.

She was kind till the villain tha' hae slain her guid man."

Through hedges and ditches ye canna be sure.

Through the wuids o' Glentower* ye maun slap in an oor.

Then up spak' the babe on his nanny's knee,

"It's afore I'm a man, avenged I'll be."

*Robin Hall sang "Glentower," though the actual place referred to seems to be "Glentanar."