The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #158827   Message #3760464
Posted By: Tattie Bogle
23-Dec-15 - 09:07 AM
Thread Name: Set Dancing Songs?
Subject: RE: Set Dancing Songs?
A friend runs a singing class for the local Parkinson's Disease Group: singing is also beneficial in that it improves breath control and articulation.
And we played for a ceilidh for the same group: the dancers were a mixture of those afflicted and their friends: as Jim has said in the linked article, we thought we might have to play at slower than usual dance speed, but in fact were asked by the dancers to take it back up to almost usual pace.

And, not Irish, but another ceilidh dancing song from Glasgow songwriter, Ian Davison: not in the DT, though 4 verses of it are posted in a 2002 thread. Here's the whole song (translations if required!) Phil and Aly are, of course, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, and quite a few dances mentioned.

ROOM FUR US A' IN THE DANCE                                Ian Davison
Tune: Back O' Bennachie

Chorus (+ after each verse)
Wi' Phil oan the boax an' Ally on the fiddle,
We birl at the tap an' we dash doon the middle,
An, "Whit she sees in him is a riddle",
But there's room fur us a' in the dance.

1.There's some o' us no even startit yet,
An' some of us are up fur every set,
An' some o' the faces shine wi' sweat,
An' there's room fur us a' in the dance.

2.They're a' in noo, wi' the Sergeant dashin',
An' the elbows up, an' the partners clashin',
An' the blood is up an' the eyes are flashin',
An' there's room fur us a' in the dance.

3.The cry goes up fur Strip the Willow,
The ties are aff, the dresses billow,
An' ah widnae mind her tae share ma pillow,
An' there's room fur us a' in the dance.

4.Then airm-n-airm in rows we're headin',
Steppin' it oot fur Mairi's Weddin',
An' some'll no miss the weight they're sheddin'.
An there's room fur us a' in the dance.

5.Wi the Quarrie's jig an' Autumn in Appin,
The feet are gauin' an' the hands are clappin',
An' the Deil knaws whit next'll happen,
An' there's room fur us a' in the dance.

6.By the Duke O' Perth and the Eightsome Reel,
Ye'd think we a' hud springs in oor heels,
An' a wee quick cuddle or a kiss we'll steal,
An' there's room fur us a' in the dance.

7.Wi' the Hamilton Rant and the Kashmir shawl,
Ye kin hairdly hear the caller's calls,
Fur the din that's echoin' aff the wa's,
An' there's room fur us a' in the dance.

8.But noo it's time fur Toddlin' Hame,
An' maist o' the people are limpin' lame,
An' quite a few folk are lyin' there maimed,
An' there's room fur us a' in the dance.