Below is my attempt at a transcription. Several parts don't make sense and therefore are probably wrong, but this is the best I can do at this point. We will have to await corrections from other people. WILD OLD TUNE As recorded by the McCalmans on "Where the Sky Meets the Sea" (2002) 1. Oh it's good at learnin' the season of the berry-picker Merry goes the motion of the reel and lusty lassies flicker In and out the mirthful rout and round about and never quicker Trip it in the twilight to the wild old tune. 2. And ever as the piper plays we neath the ... [*] rays We wilderness a case dispel a wilder thread of careless maze As in and out with joyful shout the youthful rout keep holidays At dancing till the nightfall to the wild old tune. 3. And it's happy on the hedge when at set of sun the merry reaper Keeps the reel and looks him gaily round and down the serpent deeper Till in dreams the music streams and still it seems to ev'ry sleeper Still their nimble feet obey the wild old tune. 4. Oh it's blithe up the glen in the season of the berry-picker Merry goes the motion of the reel and lusty lassies flicker In and out the mirthful rout and round about and never quicker Trip it in the twilight to the wild old tune. Notes: * I suspect the word or phrase he's using here is not English. I am reminded of "paso doble" or "pasodoble," a Spanish word for a type of dance step (literally "double step"). I think I hear "doble" but I don't recognize the word before it; it sounds like "fadey-doble." I have no idea what it means. I'm not familiar enough with Scottish dancing to know the terms for dance steps—if that's what it is (and that's only a guess on my part). My wife noticed a similarity between this tune and "The Book Report," a song from the musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." (I might post a link later.)
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