The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #9515   Message #1096630
Posted By: Matthew Edwards
19-Jan-04 - 07:07 PM
Thread Name: Origins: The Barnyards of Delgaty
Subject: Lyr Add: RHYNIE / LILTEN LOWREN / LINTEN LOWRIN
Strange to note; Rhynie, aka 'Lilten Lowren' or 'Linten Lowrin' doesn't seem to be DT nor in the Forum archives (but alternative spellings might produce different results).

Anyway, as sung by John Strachan, the song goes:

At Rhynie I sheared my first hairst,
Near to the foot o' Bennachie;
My maister was richt ill to fit,
But laith was I to lose my fee.

Lilten lowren lowren addy,
Lilten lowren lowren ee.


Rhynie's work is ill to work,
And Rhynie's wages is but sma'
And Rhynie's laws are double strict
And that does grieve me worst of a'.

Lilten lowren lowren addy,
Lilten lowren lowren ee.


Rhynie it's a cauld clay hole,
It's far frae like my faither's toon;
And Rhynie it's a hungry place;
It doesna suit a lowland loon.

Lilten lowren lowren addy,
Lilten lowren lowren ee.


But sair I've wrocht and sair I've focht,
And I hae won my penny fee;
And I'll gang back the gait I cam,
And a better bairnie I will be.

Lilten lowren lowren addy,
Lilten lowren lowren ee.


John Strachan of Aberdeenshire was recorded by Peter Kennedy and Alan Lomax at Fyvie in 1951, and these recordings are available from Folktrax ref 065 &(066)
Rounder have issued some of John Strachan's songs, including Rhynie in their "Portraits" series:- Portrait: John Strachan.

Rhynie is generally thought to be the basis for The Barnyards of Delgaty, but it is worth noting that Jock Duncan who sings Barnyards thinks that it is a comic exaggeration of farmtoun conditions at Delgaty, and that "There's no way that any place, Barnyards o Delgaty or anywhere else would hae a deen pair of horses. The Barnyards had aye the best horses - a great ferm toun that."