John Eaglesham - songs & info

Subject: Undocumented gems about Life in West of Scotland
From: Ragman
Date: 02 May 06 - 08:55 AM

Had the great fortune of meeting John Eaglesham for the first time at the Girvan Folk Festival on 30 April 2006, and hearing him perform a number of his own songs. Every one full of wonderful observations and wry comments on matters all listeners could immediately relate to. There was so much material that I could only afterwards remember snatches of these hilarous songs which range from experienced on the West Highland way (Inver-O-O-Ran), to "Nookie when your 90".

Further discussions led to names like Sean Tierney (Milngavie Song & , John Murphy (I get a kick out of Rhu), David Clark (The Wilds of Croftamie) and many others.

Many of these songs cannot be found in shops or books, and only exist through the tradition of the oral tradition of clubs and pubs.

I would like to start recording for posterity, (words and music if possible) the wonderful talent and give due credit to these great song writers from the West of Scotland.

Please, anyone, add songs or song fragments you know which comment on life in The West of Scotland, today or yesterday. Lyrics and authors if possible, though I am certain that if lyrics are put down here, someone will be able to fill in the gaps.

For Starters, I will post a great song about a fight on a Glasgow Bus, and Sean Tierney's wonderful poke at the upwarly mobile toffs who bettered themselves by moving to the suburbs.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham and others
From: Ragman
Date: 02 May 06 - 08:57 AM

I meant to give this thread a more general title, although a thread about John Eaglesham on its own would be great!

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Ragman
Date: 02 May 06 - 09:18 AM

See the thread on "Undocumented Songs about Life in the Wsst of Scotland" for "The 37 Bus" and "The Milngavie Song"

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From:
Date: 02 May 06 - 09:59 AM

Hi Ragman, John Eaglesham is just magic!!!! and it was great to see him in fine form at the weekend.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Big Tim
Date: 02 May 06 - 12:13 PM

He canny play fitba onymair, knackered knees! (He was never much good anyway, too slow).                     

I've known John since 1962. He's quite a character, not a bad singer either and plays a mean melodeon. I remember when he first started learning, the noise was painful but he persevered. The songwriting is a late flowering.

For many years, from about 1964, John (or Piso as we call him), was lead singer in the Glasgow folk group, The Clutha (Clyde). I think it's worth recording that when I met John Moulden in Ireland a few years ago, he told me that in his opinion John E was the best of all the "revivalist" (his word) singers. I don't agree but when told John that, he was, understandably, quite chuffed.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: GUEST,Scabby Douglas
Date: 04 May 06 - 06:52 PM

refresh...

I'd like to get some of those words of John's songs too...
Brian .. we'll have to fight who sings what if we get them..

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Big Tim
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:43 AM

Being out of touch, and out of Glasgow, I haven't heard any of his songs, tho I have it on good authority that one in particular is very good.

I don't think John is online, but I know someone very close to him who is. I'll email and ask her if John would like his songs posted on the Mudcat. Give me a few days.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: GUEST,Scabby Douglas
Date: 05 May 06 - 12:03 PM

Tim.. thanks for this.

If he's at all uncomfortable about it there's no problem... And if he wants to know who's asking, then I'm Steven Clark...   Ragman and I were sitting just next to him in the singaround at the hotel on Saturday.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Hillheader
Date: 05 May 06 - 04:47 PM

Fight on a Glasgow Bus?

The 37 Bus as sung by Hamish Imlach perhaps?


The 37 Bus

Ah wiz sittin on the upper deck o' a 37 bus
Ah seen big Jimmie swillin wine An' stirrin up a fuss
The driver stopped the the bus right sharp an' belted up the stair
"Yie can get the Hell right aff this bus if ye gie us any mair"

Oh Pal,no offense "big Jimmie said : "if ye knew what I 've been through
Ye widnae say such things tae me or blame a man that's fu'
fur Ah lost ma pile on the dugs taenight , Ah'll huv yes fur tae know
Fur Ah put down all ma overtime pay on a dug that widnae go"

The driver said " Ah dinnae care nor gie a Tinker's curse
Yer swearin an yer bawlin is disturbin a' the bus
Ah've hud aboot enough of you,a lot more than Ah need
If ye dont haud that big tongue o' yours , Ah'll stuff it doon yer heid."

Big Jimmie looked up and picked his nose and he finished aff his wine
He says " The way ye've spoke tae me has went right oot o' line
Ah've sorted out 15 like you tae get intae a fight
Get doon on yer knees and beg fur help ,yah dirty little shite."

At this the bus began tae clear as people got off fast
Wi' good auld Glasgow chivalry the wimmen an children last
They gathered round and they shouted out fur they didnae like big Jim
:Come now driver sink the boot ,get stuck right intae him."

The driver smiled and waded in kicking and swinging blows
Until he got Jim's big square heid a planted on his nose
His knee came up, his fist went doon that wiz the battle o'er
So he jumped a couple o' times on his heid as he lay upon the floor

An' staightaway the polis came up tae capture Jim
In threes an' fours an' dozens , well he laid them oot round him
An' when wi' forty stoatin him he finally sensless sank
Ah counted fourteen polis hats washed away doon a stank

So if ye'er ever sittin on a 37 bus
An see big Willie swillin wine and kickin up a fuss
Don't try tae act the hero an throw big Jimmie aff
Cos the poor old Glasgow polis , They huvnae got the staff.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Ragman
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:07 PM

Thanks for your input Davieboy. I believe the 37 Bus was written by Ian McCarry and Tom Docherty. I believe it is in a Mudcat thread somewhere.

I have also posted the lyrics on another thread about Undocumented gems about Life in West of Scotland. If you have any more songs like this one, please put them in.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Big Tim
Date: 08 May 06 - 06:57 AM

My contact, Biff, tells me that John knows about the Thread, informed last weekend at Moniave.

She'll talk to him on Wednesday but expects him to agree to posting his lyrics (except for the naughty ones), which she has already typed up and can forward to me.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Big Tim
Date: 11 May 06 - 11:43 AM

Grumpy Jack (JE) has agreed for some of his songs to be posted here. He and Biff will finalise the lyrics this weekend and email them to me. After all this, they had better be good!

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: GUEST,Scabby Douglas
Date: 11 May 06 - 05:44 PM

They are...

Oh they are...

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Ragman
Date: 02 Jun 06 - 05:53 PM

Just returned to this thread. Many thanks for your interest, I'm really looking forward to seeing these songs.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Big Tim
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 02:39 AM

No info received: looks like he's not interested, tho he could have said.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Diva
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 08:11 AM

These things take time!!!!!!

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Ragman
Date: 11 Dec 06 - 02:08 PM

Thought it would be a good time to refresh this item... Surely someone knows some of JE's songs!

Subject: Lyr Add: LET ME LIE IN GALLOWA' (J Eaglesham?)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 12:22 AM

I think this might be a John Eaglesham song, if it's not I'd appreciate knowing whose it is.
Jack


       LET ME LIE IN GALLOWA'

There was an old wife in Glasgow toon
And when she was goin' tae dee
She says tae her man in great distress,
If you've ony respect for me
Don't bury me here in Glasgow, John,
But heed ma last request
And carry me back to Gallowa',
For here I can have nae rest

      For ma heart is sair for Gallowa,
    And it's broomy hills sae green
    So let me lie in Gallowa',
    Amangst ma kith and kin

Noo I've never been happy in Glasgow, John,
Since ever you brought me here
It's been hustle and moil and trouble and toil
And neighbours no dae'n the stairs
I never could lie easy here
So have pity on me dear
For yon Sighthill cemetary's fu' o' folk
I've focht for forty years

Just take me south tae Sanquhar,
And on tae bonny Carsphairn
And let me look on the lands I lo'ed
When I was just a bairn
By Earlston and Lauriston,
At length tae reach Glenlea
And there you can leave me in the clay,
For there I would gladly be

Weel noo transport isnae cheap
But I'm a reasonable man,
A compromise is what we want
And I have the very plan
I will bury you here in Glasgow toon
But if ever the day does daw
That you kick the bloody clods off,
I'll tak ye tae Gallowa

    For I ken you would lie in Gallowa'
    'mangst broomy hills sae green
    An then ye can lie in Gallowa'
    Amangst your kith and kin

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 07:37 PM

Refresh....

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WILDS O' CROFTAMIE (John Eaglesham)
From: GUEST,Jimmy Mac
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 09:00 AM

I remember my faither singing this song!

THE WILDS O' CROFTAMIE

Oh away in the wilds o'Croftamie
Where the white man fears to tread
There's an old log shack
And it stands well back
In the land o' the so called dead

If you peer through the muck on the windows
Or creep through the door with some stealth
You will find on a bunk
A wine sodden drunk
Who hikes for the good of his health

That's all I can remember lyrics wise and the tune was loosely based on the chorus of The Toreador's song from Carmen.

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham
From: Anne Neilson
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 11:00 AM

Fond memories of all the naughty/cheeky songs (Nookie; Inveroran; Song of Passion etc.) -- but would also like to put in a plea for John's very sensitive settings of poems by Violet Jacob ("Last o' the Tinkler") and Joe Corrie ("Anither" and "Guttin' Herrin' ").

Subject: Lyr Add: INVERORAN (John Eaglesham)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Jan 12 - 05:31 PM

Here is Inveroran, which Andymac kindly posted on another thread in 2008. The tune is like "the Man that broke the bank at Monte Carlo".

INVERORAN (John Eaglesham)

Ch.
It's no that faur fae Glesca and it's by Loch Tulla's shore
There's fish in the loch and deer oan the hills and whiles the buzzard's soaring,
Ye go north tae Bridge of Orchy then ye turn left at Beinn Dorain
And there beneath Stob Ghabhar lies Inveroran.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Inveroran's just the place for you to waste your youth
I'd waste mine there if I had it left and that's the honest rtuth
You pad the hills for hauf an hour to cultivate your drouth
Then you droon it in the bar in Inveroran.
Noo the bar at Inveroran's no the biggest wan I've seen,
I was wis in wi 15 blokes but they were very lean
An ah wance goat telt they'd 50 in wi using Vaseline
Aye it's cosy in the bar at Inveroran

Ch.

Noo the Inveroran culture count it couldne be any higher
Wi ethnic groups and talk about books and drama ? choirs?
And the prince of them gaelic poets, Duncan Ban McIntyre
Used tae tune his Celtic lyre at Inveroran
No Murphy keeps the music gaun, and when he's had some beer
Wi his banjo or melodeon he sings out loud and clear
But the sherry makes him birl his box around about his ears
Then it's time to clear the floor at Inveroran

Ch.

Noo the host at Inveroran is always fine and cheery
His service is quite civil and his price's no that dear
But in a the tents and bothies he's identified quite clear
As the man that watters the beer in Inveroran
Just last year a dreadful smear was cast upon the house
The exciseman arrived and said that Donald was a louse
He'd been selling cooking whisky ootta bottles labelled grouse
He got fined 400 pounds in Inveroran

Ch.

MacNamara climbed Munros until he found his bent
And then he gied the hills a bye and started climbing tents
His best achievement up tae noo's a North Face 1st ascent
O a 1 inch ower ridge in Inveroran
Noo the inveroran midgie is a carnivore elite
With a mouth like Jaws and teeth like saws that grind ye till ye greet
Wi an ice axe in his oxter and tricounis on his feet
He goes hunting human meat in Inveroran

Ch.

Outward bounders fair abound fae early in the day
They swarm through inveroran oan this new West Highland Way
They carry packs like tower blocks, I don't know whit they weigh
But they've a' got bowly legs by Inveroran
Noo ye've heard me tell about the place I like sae well
Go or stay away its up entirely tae yersel
But the next time I've got time aff I can confidently tell,
I'll be stepping out like hell for Inveroran

Ch

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham - songs & info
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 13 May 13 - 01:58 PM

Adam MacNaughtan told me that John decided not to sing his verse about the midgie, as it is entomologically incorrect- the female midgie is the biter.
John was a regular visitor to our sessions at the House o Hill pub in Glentrool, Galloway a few years ago, before it became a restaurant. He went off one day to Colmonell village, a few miles north to search out his roots. I've know him for 46 years, but that he has been very ill for years now, but have lost touch with his partner Biff, who kept us informed.
The song 'Let me lie in Gallowa' is typical of his sense of humour- it is indeed one of John's (or Jack's as he is generally called by his friends) songs- think he called it the 'Wife o' the Garngad'

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham - songs & info
From:
Date: 13 May 13 - 08:16 PM

Thanks for the confirmation on 'Wife o' the Garngad'Jim

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham - songs & info
From: GUEST,Bob Blair - guest
Date: 14 May 13 - 05:39 AM

Just a quick note to say John is not at all well these days but he still has wicked sense of humour as he illustrated when I saw him recently.

The good news for lovers of John's songs is that we in Stramash, the last group that he sang with, are in the process of bringing out a CD of John singing his songs that we've compiled from archive recordings.

Watch this space.

Bob Blair

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham - songs & info
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 14 May 13 - 06:35 PM

Hi Bob,
looking forward to seeing you at the Glasgow Ballads Workshop at the end of the month!
Is the cd you are talking about different from the one I have (called 'Half Cut')?
Anyway, please put me down for a copy -- and what about the possibility of a songbook at some point? - We could subscribe in advance -- - ?

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham - songs & info
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 31 Dec 16 - 11:37 AM

any more news of a source for the CD in question- is this the charity one discussed earlier?

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham - songs & info
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 31 Dec 16 - 10:20 PM

Jim if you contact Finlay Allison (via The Glasgow Fiddle Workshop site if you cannot find him other ways) he will be able to assist.
(Finlay also plays with Stramash)

Meantime I will get word to him that you are interested in the cd----
Nag me in a week or three if you've not managed to get hold of Finlay or I've not got back to you!
A

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham - songs & info
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Jan 17 - 12:20 PM

I'd be interested too! Can maybe get a supply to sell at the Glasgow Ballad Workshops later this month - we shall have other members of "Stramash" there, after all!

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham - songs & info
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 17 - 08:39 AM

We should ask Anne....
NB if this says Guest its cos its my phone Gallus Moll

Subject: RE: John Eaglesham - songs & info
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 02 Jan 17 - 10:02 AM

looking back at the older posts I see someone mentioned 'Croftamie'; I think this is one that he Inverscotia Nomads used to sing, and probably from and old climbers' bothy songbook (along with The Bar-room Mountaineers and the like)
I will probably have a copy of it somewhere- - but my filing system being somewhat random, maybe someone else will be able to post the full song before me?!