Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish

Subject: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Muttley
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 06:41 AM

I am looking for the chords to three (basically) Scottish Songs. Two are by Billy Connolly and one is more 'traditional'

The Connolly songs are:

"Weekend Soldier" and "The Janny Song"

They begin respectively:
WEEKEND SOLDIER:- I am a weekend soldier and the world is scared of me
                           I've fought a million battles and - I'm always home in time for tea


THE JANNY SONG:- When I was wee I used tae have a nightmare ev'ry night
                            I woke up screamin' just before the monster took a bite
                            He wore a blue serge outfit
                            Wi' buttons shiny and bright
                            I lived in terror o' the Janny


The third song was one my uncle used to sing at every family social gathering: singing and sing-along's being a great Scottish tradition at family gatherings of my parents generation. It's a catchy song and quite jaunty to sing to.

The song is called "The Railway Porter"

It begins: Oh! I am a Railway Porter and my name is . . . . .
         

I pretty much have all the lyrics - what I NEED (desperately) are the chords.

If someone out there can take the time and listen to the songs they can "rough chord" them for me and I can take it from there

Many thanks in anticipation.

John (Muttley) Waters

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Scotus
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 12:27 PM

I'm afraid I can't help with the 'Big Yin's' songs, but here's the Railway Porter -

       G                          D7
  Oh I am a railway Porter and ma name is Willie Wee
                                        G
  Am the maist important fella ye could ever hope tae see
           C                                 G                Em
  When the train draws in the station ye can hear me loud and clear
         G                         D7     G
  For ma duty is tell ye ye've tae change here
  G  D      D7  G                                  D7
  Ye change for Auchtermuchter, cuddle ma dochter, Crieff or 
                                                 G               G7
  Cullercoats, Fife or John O' Groats, Beecham's pills or Quaker oats,
             C                          G                 Em
  Change for Ecclefechan, Aiberdeen and a' the stations in atween,
    G                            D7 G
  Unless ye want tae gang tae Tobermory

Hope this works for you!

Jack Beck

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Scotus
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 12:32 PM

The chords seem to have shifted a bit to the left as they flew through the internet - they're in the right order though!

Jack Beck

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Muttley
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 07:33 PM

Jack you're a true gentleman: Thankyou from the bottom of my nostalgic heart.
Jimmy was the most popular of all our uncles as he was so laconic and easy going (though like many Scots - he could display a vicious temper when pushed). He died many years ago from smoking -related cancer and our family gatherings and consequent sing-alongs have consequently 'dwindled away' to nothing since he left us. Dad's generation is too old and I'm the only one in mine interested in reviving the auld practice!
Jim was also always the one chosen to come to the front door of the house where we were celebrating New Year (Hogmanay)at midnight with a "wee bottle o' somethin'" - It's tradition that once midnight arrives on New Years Eve / New Year's Day that in order to bring good luck to the household and all the folk inside at the time; the first man to cross the threshold after midnight sounds must be of dark hair/complexion and be carrying a bottle of alcohol. Jim had the darkest hair in the family - most of the rest of us were blonde.

Again - thankyou MOST sincerely - don't suppose you know the others???

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Scotus
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 10:29 PM

You're talking to a Fifer (from Dunfermline) who has only been resident in Florida since December - I'm weel aquaintet wi' first-fittin'!

Sorry I can't help with the other songs.

What words do you have for the 'Railway Porter'? It used to be a favourite in the Dunfermline Howff folk club back in the 60s.

Jack beck

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Muttley
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 03:04 AM

Gee Jack, I haven't heard the term 'first fittin' in absolutely years.

The words are pretty much the same as your own with differences mainly in the verse about the Royal Carriage. As Uncle Jim used to sing it, that verse ran:
                                                            
Well one day the Royal Train drew in an' I was fu' o' pride!                                          
I keeked intae the Royal Saloon and who d'ye think I spied?,                                                
I saw His Majesty, King George the Fifth, the Queen was by his side                                          
So I yelled wi' all my micht "Ye've got tae change for"

Change for . . . . .
                     Chorus

Wasn't sure I have recalled the word "keeked" correctly. I seem to remember hearing it used as referring to "Having a sneaky look / peeking"

Any ideas here.

Sorry, realised AFTER I posted my reply earlier that you had already stated that you didn't know the chords for the songs by "The Big Yin"

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 03:25 AM

http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_willielee.htm

A modestly interesting site, but a bit short on attributions. I doubt if it's a particularly old song. Do you know more than is quoted there?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 06:16 AM

Hi Muttley
Weekend soldier is to an Irish? hymn/dance/pipe tune called "The Flight of the Earls"
(Not the same one as in the DT Forum as "Flight of Earls" by Liam Reilly)

My version of the busking chords ( Key of C)

[C] I am a weekend sold-[F]-ier
and the [C] world is scared of [Am] me
I've [C] fought a million bat-[F]-tles and
- I'm [C] always [G]home in time for [C]tea

Kenny B

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Muttley
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 10:53 PM

Thanks Kenny B - most appreciated.

Now if I can only get the chords tae the Janny Song - i'l be a'right

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Scotus
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 04:20 PM

I must be a sad bugger or have too much time on my hands (or both!).

a couple of further thoughts on 'The Railway Porter' -

The humour of the chorus is that it lists both the place names and adverts that you would see from the train as it goes through the stations.

I used to sing the first line of the chorus thus -

'Ye change fir Auchtermuchter, Killie or Tuchter, Crieff or Cullercoats, Fife or John-O-Groats, Beecham Pills or Quaker Oats - -'

A search in the forum shows a lyric add with variations on the above. I'd dearly like to get some background on the song - any info out there?

Jack Beck

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Muttley
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 08:15 PM

ARE there towns called 'Killie' and/or 'Tuchter' or are these abbreviations of "Killiecrankie" and (I couldn't find a longer name suggesting Tuchter).

I'd love to get some background on it as well.

On the first part of this reply: My uncle used to sing the "Cuddlemadochter" version - I'm sure that's what's on the old recording we have of him on tape sounds like.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: GUEST,folkiefrank
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 08:39 PM

It used to be one of Arthur Argo's party pieces at the Aberdeen Folk Club! I've also heard a recorded version by the Caern Folk Trio in the 60/70s titled "the Railway Porter" although I think it's more well known as "Wille Wee".
Re first fittin'....a lump of coal was the traditional present, ...."lang may yer lum reek"....or a gift of tea!...in my days in Dundee onnywey.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: Muttley
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 08:18 PM

You're right, of course, Frank.

The 'fairst fitter' did indeed have to have a lump of coal in one hand (or his pocket) and a "drop o' somethin'"in his other. Whiskey was good but beer was more common. (Jim once 'fairst fitted' with a bottle of Advokaat - a sickeningly sweet aegg liquer from memory - YECH !!! )

He was also supposed to have dark (preferably black) hair.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: 3 Songs - All Scottish
From: GUEST,Derek F
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 07:15 AM

Hope this helps... As happened with the posting from Jack I dont know if chords will look right when posted.
The Janny Song - Billy Connolly

D                                                 G                         D
When I was wee I used tae hiv a nightmare every night
                                       E                      A
I woke up screamin jist before the monster took a bite
G                          D          G                      D
He wore a blue serge outfit wi buttons shiny n bright
                         A D
I lived in terror o the janny


G
Oh the janny aye the janny
D
He nearly drove me mad
E                                       A
He'd shop me tae the teachers any time that I was bad,
G
I wish that he'd retire or die or move tae Garngad,
      D                                 A D
Ma hearts near broke wi the janny


D                                         G                      D
I mind wan summer evening I was playing on the street
                                E                A
A simple game a fitba wi ma sannies on ma feet
G                D               G                     D
I hit the baw a stoater an it soared away a treat
                                       A D
The last thing on ma mind wis the janny


D                                       G                        D
Noo I don't look fur trouble but I seem tae get ma share
                                         E                  A
The baw went sailin skywards slowly curvin in the air
G                      D                              G                D
The last thing I remember there wis plate glass everywhere
                                 A D
And guess who saw me the janny

G
Oh the janny aye the janny
D
He nearly drove me mad
E                                       A
He'd shop me tae the teachers any time that I was bad,
G
I wish that he'd retire or die or move tae Garngad,
      D                                 A D
Ma hearts near broke wi the janny


D                                                          G                     D
First thing on Monday morning I was sent for by the head
                                         E                            A
And he hit me wi his leather belt till I wished that I was dead
G                       D                G                   D
I swore I'd get the janny and choke him in his bed
                           A D
I wis gonny murder the janny


D                                                            G                   D
Well nine years later I left school and I got myself a job
                                 E                      A
It felt a million dollars just tae huv a couple a bob
G                               D                           G                    D
I wis oot the road of the traffic didnae need tae steal or rob
                                              A D
And I've yet tae see a shipyerd wi a janny


G
Oh the janny aye the janny
D
He nearly drove me mad
E                                       A
He'd shop me tae the teachers any time that I was bad,
G
I wish that he'd retire or die or move tae Garngad,
      D                                 A D
Ma hearts near broke wi the janny

D                                                            G                     D
One night on my way hame fae work I nipped in for a pint
                                                E                     A
Somethin glistened in the corner of my eye jist oot of sight
G                 D         G                              D
I saw it wis the janny I prepared myself tae fight
                         A D
I wis gonny murder the janny


D                                                            G                      D
Well the next thing I remember he wis staunin next tae me
                                    E                     A
He wisnae such a big bloke only five fit two or three
G                    D                     G                                         D
If I'd laid a hand upon him ma mates would've murdered me
                         A D
A poor wee soul is the janny


G
Oh the janny aye the janny
D
He nearly drove me mad
E                                       A
He'd shop me tae the teachers any time that I was bad,
G
Im gled he's no retired or dead or livin in Garngad,
D                         A D    G D
A poor wee soul is the janny