The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #78932 Message #1426200
Posted By: Marion in Cornwall
03-Mar-05 - 04:02 PM
Thread Name: ADD Battlefield Band's 'Devil Uisge Bheath'
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DEVIL UISGE BEATHA (Alan Reid)
Justin,
Here are the words I think you are looking for. I have taken them from my copy of Alan Reids book (Martyrs, Rogues & Worthies).
Alan Reids note says "The Devil's Courtship finds him (the devil) in a familiar role of enticer... and in 'The Devil Uisge Beatha' old nick takes on the form of whiskey. The Gaelic phrase 'uisge beatha' literally means 'water of life' and was Anglicised to become the word "whisky".
Regards,
Marion
THE DEVIL UISGE BEATHA
Words by Alan Reid
1. He watches for the gauger man that prowls the countryside,
He hides his liquid treasure then waits for night and rides
Ower the Torrance burn tae Glesca where there's plenty that
will buy her
She's that sweet forbidden devil uige beatha
2. A band o' wild marauders in the colours o' Colquhoun
Were camped among the Campsie moors above the Lennoxtoon
The folk below were soon tae know they were clan Gregor men
When they came sweepin' doon the Campsie Glen
3. They scattered a' before them a' the weemin and the bairns
They chased the fermin' workers and the fermers' fae their hames
They gathered up the cattle and they camped aside the hill
And there they fun' the hidden whisky still
Ch: Whiskey is a deevil jaud that burns the brains o' man
He'll dance or stagger sing or fight
He'll argue black and blue is white
The fermer's wife the weeda and the weary workin' man
They fill the air wi' curses on that devil uisge beatha
4. The Campsie men assembled then tae see what could be done
But shepherd lads and cottars cannae match a hielan' band
They cursed the thievin' reivers and their heathen hielan cries
As they drank their fill aneath the evenin' skies
Ch: Whiskey is a deevil jaud that burns the brains o' man
He'll dance or stagger sing or fight
He'll argue black and blue is white
The fermer's wife the weeda and the weary workin' man
They fill the air wi' curses on that devil uisge beatha
5. Whisky is a devil jaud that burns the brains o' man
For in the night the hielan' men fell drunk upon the grun
The Campsie men crept up to them and slew them as they lay
And a' was back in order by the day
6. There's stills above the Clachan there's stills aroon the fells
There's stills aroon the countryside nae gauger man can smell
But the one that snared the Gregor was mair valuable than ten
Tae the hones fermers o' the Campsie Glen
Ch: Whiskey is a deevil jaud that burns the brains o' man
He'll dance or stagger sing or fight
He'll argue black and blue is white
The fermer's wife the weeda and the weary workin' man
They fill the air wi' blessins' on that devil uisge beatha
The melody of verses 4 & 5 are the same as verse 1 and verse 6 is the same as 3.