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13 Jul 09 - 05:51 PM (#2679465) Subject: TITLE ENQUIRY: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: GUEST,John Which is the correct title of this Scottish folk song; COLTUS or CULTOS Candy. Also, what is its history Thanking you all |
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13 Jul 09 - 05:58 PM (#2679472) Subject: RE: TITLE ENQUIRY: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: Emma B Coulter's Candy |
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13 Jul 09 - 05:58 PM (#2679473) Subject: RE: TITLE ENQUIRY: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Coulter's Candy. You can find two examples in the DT here: Coulters Candy and Coulter's Candy. At the bottom of those song pages you'll find links to discussion threads on the song, where you can find more information (the music thread has info on the name source I think). Mick |
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13 Jul 09 - 06:10 PM (#2679481) Subject: RE: TITLE ENQUIRY: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: Matthew Edwards The song you want is Coulters Candy which was based on the true story of Robert Coltart, a travelling candyman of Galashiels in the mid 19th century, who sang nonsensical verses as he sold his candy in the fairs and markets of the Scottish Borders. Ewan McVicar has written at greater length about the song and its origins in his delightful book Doh Ray Me, When Ah Wis Wee. Matthew Edwards |
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13 Jul 09 - 06:14 PM (#2679484) Subject: RE: TITLE ENQUIRY: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: GUEST,John Thankyou all for your help. |
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13 Jul 09 - 10:11 PM (#2679607) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: Commander Crabbe John The word Coulter is more often than not pronounced "Cooter" and has I believe two meanings, the first and main is descriptive of the "leading edge of a plough share" and secondly it is sometimes used to refer to a back farm (one that is not situated on the south facing side of a hill/glen). It's also my surname but I don't sell candy! CC |
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14 Jul 09 - 06:14 AM (#2679765) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh Unfortunately, I think, this song is now often sung with the last line of each verse (and chorus) mentioning not "Coulter's Candy" but, prosaically, just "sugar-candy". Is this a case of "the tradition changing" which we should regret, welcome, or remain studiously neutral about? |
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14 Jul 09 - 06:50 AM (#2679780) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: The Borchester Echo I first heard this song from Marian McKenzie of Kirkcaldy when she was a member of The Three City Four with Leon Rosselson, Roy Bailey and Ralph Trainer. She did not, however, sing the line as " Waitin' for a wee penny" which sonjures up the most bizarre scenario, but "greetin' for a wee baubee". |
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14 Jul 09 - 02:34 PM (#2680160) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh More or less how I heard that line, in Aberdeen many years ago; only, it was "greetan fur anither bawbee, Tae buy mair Coulter's candy". |
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14 Jul 09 - 07:15 PM (#2680356) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: Susanne (skw) I've got recordings by Robin Hall, The Galliards, Ray Fisher, Hamish Imlach, Iain MacKintosh and The Ian Campbell Folk Group. The ICFG are the only ones substituting 'sugar candy' for 'Coulter's candy, and also doing away with most of the Scottish dialect. I suppose it had to do with them playing mainly in England but it seems to take something from the song. |
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14 Jul 09 - 07:23 PM (#2680363) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: Emma B I've always heard this song sung as "greetin' for a wee baubee" too but some things don't 'translate' too easily - for example the line "Yer daddys singin' on the brew" I worked for a short time in Glasgow in the late 1960s and had a baptism of fire into the local dialect:) |
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15 Jul 09 - 04:24 AM (#2680537) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: GUEST It's 'Your Daddy's signing on the bro' - that is your father is on the dole (the Borough - local government. Singing on the brew conjurs up a wonderful picture of innebriation. Anne Croucher |
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15 Jul 09 - 04:32 AM (#2680541) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: goatfell almost any Scottish mother knows this song, they use it as a lullaby. I sing it at nursing/care homes and they all join in. |
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15 Jul 09 - 05:32 AM (#2680566) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: MartinRyan "on the brew" also turns up, of course, in Crawford Howard's wonderful parody of No Man's Land: Ah! Willy McBride, Why the hell did ye die? The trouble ye'd 'a saved if ye cam back alive And got a wee job - or signed on the brew.. We'd not have to listen to songs about you! Regards |
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15 Jul 09 - 06:03 AM (#2680572) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: Jim McLean On the broo (various spellings) is short for 'bureau' where one signed on for dole money. My mother thought the word 'broo' very common! |
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15 Jul 09 - 06:29 AM (#2680584) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: The Borchester Echo Gallic influence in the land o' the leal Part 953 (1) broo = bureau = dole office (2) Jacobites = pan-European Catholic aristocracy Or are you sitting in your council house dreaming o' your clan? Waiting for the Jacobites to come and free the land? Try going down the broo with your claymore in your hand And count all the princes in the queue. "No gods and precious few heroes": Brian McNeill |
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15 Jul 09 - 01:30 PM (#2680876) Subject: RE: Title Enquiry: Coltus?/Cultos? Candy From: Marje That's right, Jim, "broo" or "buroo" (which was also Northern Ireland usage) referred to the Unemployment Bureau (or was it the Employment Bureau?), aka Labour Exchange, and later Job Centre. Marje |