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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Boab Date: 23 Aug 02 - 02:54 AM Pow---Scots for head. [The word is probably "poll" in English] Finbar Fury once told me that the Irish clergy disapproved of the song because the expression "curly pow" had lewd connotation; nonsense, of course. The word was common usage in our home dialect in Ayrshire. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Aug 02 - 08:56 PM Oh you're goin' to the moon Sins.....Oh yeah......you're goin' to the moon... Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 22 Aug 02 - 05:49 PM HMMMMM...very interesting thread. Anyone else have anything to add? Please! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Aug 02 - 08:11 AM .....oh goodie............. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Jim McLean Date: 22 Aug 02 - 07:07 AM In Burns's JOHN ANDERSON MY JO he says "Blessings on your frosty pow" meaning white (wintry) haired head. A friend of mine always sang this verse, ending, "Ya baldy heided bastard"!! The other definition given for pow is pate i.e. head. Coming from Paisley some years ago, the word pow was commonly used for head. Sadly, words my father used are no longer used by Scots. Cheers, Jim mcLean |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,diana Date: 22 Aug 02 - 02:32 AM I first heard Dainty Davey sung by Shay Walker in 1969 at Puck Fair. I, too, questioned him about the curly pow. He had no answer which probably means it has more than one meaning. Never-the-less, the tune has stayed in my mind all these years and I often hum it to myself. Its beautiful and I encourage all you musicians out there to revive it. I'm sure curly pow means curly head but it might mean, "lay your head on my lap" which according to the music, seems right to me. I also heard light brigade which is lyrical as well, maybe even metaphorical. Its a song that is timeless and seems to defy logic and reason. Its a love song pure and simple. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 13 Sep 01 - 06:35 PM Still waiting.... |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 12 Sep 01 - 07:58 PM So it really is pornography? Spaw needs a definitive answer. And I need a laugh. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 12 Sep 01 - 05:00 PM Yeah..........and gee I'm so happy you refreshed it for us.............................................. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Funsmith@msn.com Date: 12 Sep 01 - 04:52 PM This has been an interesting read. I'd never seen the actual lyrics in print before. We were taught them at RenFaire as, "ease me on your pearly prow" Then there's the verse where he "was oft between her knees and soon gave out his gravy." It ended with... "Had I gold or Had I land, It would all be at his command, For I'll never forget what he put in my hand, It was his Dainty Davey." It sounded quite beautiful sung a capella in 4-part harmony. The ladies who regularly sang it got a kick out of folks saying, "Oh that was beautiful." when it was a song about a penis! And to think I found this whole thread just because I was searching for the lyrics. ; ) |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Mark Cohen Date: 31 Aug 01 - 01:42 AM But everybody knows "Pow!" is really Batman for "Wham!" Aloha, Mark, still stuck in 1960s TV. (And I think "Snugcatheter" just about says it all....) |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Murray MacLeod Date: 30 Aug 01 - 11:26 PM Scots for "head", that is ...... Murray |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Murray MacLeod Date: 30 Aug 01 - 11:25 PM Since the number of posts has reached 69, I thought it appropriate to make one more ejaculation. "Pow" is Scots for "hesd" it does not mean "penis", "chest" or "pubic hair" or any of the other half-baked suggestions above. How this thread went on so long beats me ....... Murray |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 30 Aug 01 - 10:41 PM Does she lean on his curly pow as she snakes her way in? |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Gareth Date: 30 Aug 01 - 03:29 PM Spaw - the thought of that makes my eyes water. Gareth |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 30 Aug 01 - 09:07 AM Actually "Songcather" is a medical training film detailing the a traditional method of catheterization that involves the nurse singing "Dainty Davey" to you as she threads a tube into your bladder. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 30 Aug 01 - 05:32 AM ...not written by Willa Cather, then, 'Spaw! RtS (no-one loves a smartass!) |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Wolfgang Date: 30 Aug 01 - 05:24 AM Spaw: Is this song done in "Songcather" Though in Mudcat every seem themes to be covered in at least eleven, pardon me, ten, threads, I could find nothing about 'songcather'. However, a websearch was successful. In this site we find the following information: Songcather Drama about a music historian who visits North Carolina in the early 1900s to examine traditional Appachian Music. Deplorably, there was no information about the songs in this film. Spaw, I advise you if you are still interested in this information to start a new thread and not to bury your question in the middle of a thread about a different topic. By the way, the film 'songcather' as far as I understand the short description seems to merit its own thread. Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Dita (at work) Date: 30 Aug 01 - 04:34 AM Song is better known as "Rantin Rovin Robin" and is in DT. love, john |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 30 Aug 01 - 01:02 AM Is this song done in "Songcather"??? Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Boab Date: 30 Aug 01 - 01:00 AM Just an aside---once, browsing in a public library, I came across a notation in Robert Burns' handwriting against the song "There was a Lad was born in Kyle"[an autobiographical poem]; it said, "to be sung to the tune "Dainty Davie" ". A much better melody than the tonsil-fanklin'stuff rendered by Ken McKellar et al. Try it sometime. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Jim Date: 29 Aug 01 - 12:46 PM A curly pow is a head of curly hair, regards. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Boab Date: 29 Aug 01 - 02:46 AM Finbar and Eddie once assured me [Hexham, circa 1965!]that the clergy in Ireland were dead against their singing of 'Dainty Davie" as the term "curly pow" was considered obscene! I gained the impression that the lads themselves were of the belief that it referred to something "naughty"; nonsense, of course---I assured them that brought up in auld Ayrshire, I heard the term many times in every-day conversation. The translation "curly head" is spot on. "Curly heidit" or "curly pow'd' were common phrases where I was reared. Boab |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 28 Aug 01 - 10:08 PM Thanks Sins......thanks a lot.........and you too Wolfie............ Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 28 Aug 01 - 10:05 PM I just acquired a copy of Argo's Lyrica Erotica, Part 2. Now I know where to go to get an explanation/translation. Anyone got a spare curly pow, I can rest my head on? |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Snuffy Date: 26 Jun 01 - 09:03 AM Spaw, When I saw this thread title back int the lists, I immediately thought how pleased you'd be to see an old friend pop up again. D'ya want me to revive the Goosie Goo thread as well? Wassail! V |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Big Tim Date: 26 Jun 01 - 03:39 AM Please; no more curly pow! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Bob Bolton Date: 25 Jun 01 - 11:44 PM G'day GUEST, a collector ... " ... adore your (short & curly) curly hair ...? The whole art of double entendre is in what else the words can mean or suggest. Regards, Bob Bolton
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,a collector of strange facts Date: 25 Jun 01 - 10:35 PM simple and easy, and from a reliable sorce ("my song is my own, edited by Kathy Henderson, et al, a wonderful song book, I recomend it highly): Oh leaze me on your curly pow= I much adore your curly hair |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Fergie Date: 06 Apr 01 - 09:38 PM I repeat my assertion that a curly pow is in fact a hairy chest, not a penis. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Bridger Date: 04 Apr 01 - 04:01 AM This song, beautiful as it is, is pure folk porn. What was put in her hand was indeed a penis, a curly pow, in this case is what surrounds said object and said object is what was placed 'tween her thighs and you can guess what the gravy was that splashed out. Burns had a way of writing such songs, often not as nicely dressed up. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Fergie Date: 07 Mar 01 - 08:37 PM I have'nt time to read all his thread so I don't know if the q has already been answered. a curly pow means: a hairy chest. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: CarolC Date: 06 Mar 01 - 08:50 PM Instant karma, Spaw. Remember the, *ahem* you know, the (killing the thread) thread? |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 06 Mar 01 - 01:38 PM Gawd I hate this thread!!!! Specifically, the thread title. It first popped up here in my first 6 months on the 'Cat and the title drove me nuts. I'd be walking around singing little ditties with the line "what's a curly pow" in them in all sorts of variants. It finally disappeared and I was another few months getting it out of my head. Then it got refreshed....and refreshed again. And lo and behold I found myself doing it again. Then another refresh and when I thought it was finally over.........no......Again its back!!!! MUDGUARD---If I ever meet you in the flesh I'm gonna' give you a curly pow right upside your head!!! Geeziz.................... Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Boab Date: 06 Mar 01 - 01:30 PM Ye've had all the explanations that ye need, Mudguard, as to the meaning of "curly pow"---the head with deformed hair is exactly right---but I see you mention the version familiar to you as the one done by Finbar and Eddie Fury ['way back in the sixties]. A wee aside---while guesting at Hexham folk club, Finbar told me that the Irish clergy had condemned their singing of the song, being of the [nonsensical] opinion that curly pow was a reference to pubic hair.[!!!!] |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,barrysheridan Date: 06 Mar 01 - 01:16 PM Cheers for clearing that up, it has been a source of argument between myself and my flatmate 4 years! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Murray MacLeod Date: 17 Jan 01 - 09:50 PM Peg, next time I am in Boston I will be there, but I don't know when that will be. Murray |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: wysiwyg Date: 17 Jan 01 - 03:42 AM Trebor, yer among yer own kind now! None are worthy yet all are called to bide awee here! Be thou joined! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Peg Date: 16 Jan 01 - 11:33 PM Murray: Shay run out of Irish songs? Never!!! He is occasionally known to do a Scottish song or two; he is certainly a fan of Rabbie Burns... so if you know these folks; when are ye comin to the sessiun??? :) |
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Subject: Lyr Add: DAINTY DAVEY (Robert Burns)^^^ From: GUEST,Julia Date: 16 Jan 01 - 09:35 PM There is a very beautiful non-bawdy version of the song, by Burns, for those of you with tender sensibilities. It does not mention the afore-queried pow- the line is "Meet me on the Warlock Knowe" (no association with wicca) When purple morning starts the hare To steal upon her early fare 'T is to the woods I will repair A wandering wi' my Davey Oh meet me on the Warlock Knowe Bonnie Davey, dainty Davey 'Tis there I'll spend he day with you My ain dear Dainty Davey The crystal waters 'round us fa' The merry birds are lovers a' The scented breezes 'round us blaw Wandering wi' my Davey When day expiring in the west The curtain draws on nature's rest I'll fly tae him that I lo'e the best An' that's my Dainty Davey Burns also used this melody for the "Gairdner wi' his Paidle" This version is in the DT - (click) -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Murray MacLeod Date: 15 Jan 01 - 01:07 PM Hey Peg, why is Shay singing Scottish songs ????????? Has he run out of Irish material? *G*. Regards to Barry and Shay and Judy et al. Murray |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Murray MacLeod Date: 15 Jan 01 - 01:04 PM Bradypus, I remember Hercules escaping, but when you say he escaped to Uist, did he swim ? I can't remember the details, I remember he lived in the wild for some time before being recaptured. Andy Robbins, for those who don't know him, was an incredibly gifted wrestler who would have crushed any of the steroid-pumped freaks in the present-day WWF with one hand tied behind his back. Murray |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Peg Date: 15 Jan 01 - 01:00 PM Shay Walker sinsg this occasionally at our singers' ssessiun in Boston and does a great job. we had an interesting discussion about the lyrics one night after he sang it. I love the song and would like to record it myself one day.
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,trebor Date: 15 Jan 01 - 12:45 PM I loved this song by the Dubliners. Then I heard the Fureys version. I wondered about the chorus and did a search on google for dainty davey and came up with you lot! The internet is truly wonderful and I am not worthy! thanks |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Murray on SS Date: 09 Feb 00 - 02:12 AM Aye aye, Cap'n: the rowdy-dow-dow is the drum (an onomatopoeic sort of nonce-name). As for the stravaiging bear, what tune would that go to? Sounds as if it shd be "The Road to the Isles". |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Bradypus Date: 08 Feb 00 - 05:22 PM Hercules the bear died yesterday.
Why does this matter to the current thread?
Hercules was a pet bear kept in Scotland by wrestler Andy Robbins. He once escaped, and made his way to Uist in the Hebrides, before being recaptured.
This escape was 'recorded' in a song by Scots folk duo Gaberlunzie.
The chorus ends
"You never will be poor Bradypus |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Cap't Bob Date: 08 Feb 00 - 05:08 PM Interesting thread ~ this clears up one line in the song "Arthur McBride" which goes: "And the little wee drummer, we flattened his pow". I always thought that pow probably meant drum (of course it could I suppose it could have meant the head of the drum?). The next question that comes to mind is is the following line: "We made a foot ball of his rowdy-dow-dow". Could the term "rowdy-dow-dow" refer to his drum? Cap't Bob |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Murray on SS Date: 08 Feb 00 - 03:34 PM "Leeze me" is in Chambers's Scots Dictionary, with a ref. forby to "Leese" -- John F has it right: "lief" is an old-fashioned sort of word (entirely obsolete in English) meaning "dear"; so "lief is me", shortened to "leeze me" or however you want to spell it (using the ethic dative, I suppose you could say) means "I hold dear", "I'm fond of", etc. "Jacob Curate" adds that "This whole story is as well known in Scotland, as that the covenant was begun and carried on by rebellion and oppression". As for the date, it precedes the book date by quite a few years. There are other remnants of the scurrilous tale--in Maidment's "A Packet of Pestilential Pasquils" (limited appendix to the 1868 edition of "A Book of Scottish Pasquils 1569-1715), p. 24, is a satire (one of many) on Williamson (no. X, 'Elegie on the Death of Williamson. By Mr. Finnie'), which contains the lines Ladies, with brinish tears bedew your cheeks, Ye've lost the three considerables in his breeks. I cannot comprehend his praise in verse, For Cherrytrees hath aggrandized his tarse,[= prick] So that in Venus' field he led the van; And Charles desired to see this able man, While in the oak, tho' he had a great soul, Had neither heart nor hands to wiled his pole; But he in hazard of life at Cherrytrees, Was bold to enter 'twixt the ladies thighs.[etc.] Maidment notes: "Charles the Second was so much astonished at Williamson's prowess, that he sent for the divine when in London." Williamson married his seventh wife, Mrs. Jean Straiton, on 20th May, 1700; he died 6th August 1706. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Dani Date: 08 Feb 00 - 08:05 AM I'm way out of my territory here, but am always interested in etymology. Where does 'dainty' come from, and does anyone know how it evolved from something that seems complimentary of dear Davey here, but not something you'd call him today? Dani |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Jon Freeman Date: 08 Feb 00 - 12:15 AM Chambers 20th Cetury English Dictionary has "Leeze me" as "(Scot) for lief is me, an expression of affection" Jon |
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