The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #170379   Message #4120130
Posted By: Tattie Bogle
16-Sep-21 - 01:32 PM
Thread Name: Any October Songs?
Subject: RE: Any October Songs?
Another "Hallowe'en" - from the poem by Violet Jacob, set to music by Jim Reid, and here sung by Sheena Wellington and Karine Polwart: it refers to the poet losing her son, Lachlan in WW1. Absolutely haunting.
Hallowe'en (Violet Jacob)

HALLOWE'EN words by Violet Jacob (1920)
Music, Jim Reid.

The tattie-liftin's nearly through,
They're plooin' whaur the barley grew
And efter dark roond ilka stack
You'll see the horsemen stand and crack
O Lachlan, but I mind on you.

I mind fu' aften we hae seen
Ten thoosand stars keek doon atween.
The naked branches, and below
Baith fairm and bothy hae their show
A-low wi' lichts o' Hallowe'en.

There's bairns wi' guys that's at their tail
Cloorin' the doors wi' runts o' kail
And fine you'll hear the screechs an' skirls
O' lassies wi' their drookit curls
Bobbin' for aipples i' the pail.

The bothy fire is loupin' heat.
A new heid-horseman's kist is set.
Richt's o'er the lamp whaur by the blaze
The auld yin stood that kept yer claes.
I cannae thole tae see it yet.

But gin the auld folks' tales are richt
An' ghaists cam hame on Hallow'n nicht,
Oh freend, oh freends, what would I gie
Tae feel yer rax yer hand tae me
Atween the dark an' coral licht!

Awa' in France across the wave,
The wee lichts burn on ilka grave
An' you an' me their lowes hae seen.
Ye'll maybe hae yer Hallowe'en
Yont whaur you're lyin' wi’ the lave.

There's drink an' daff an' sang an' dance,
An' ploys an' kisses get their chance,
But Lachlan, man, the place I see
Is whaur yer auld kist used tae be,
An' the lichts o' Hallowe'en in France.


[As sung by Jean Redpath on "Leaving the Land," 1990. Also recorded by The Sangsters on "Sharp & Sweet," 2001; and by Sheena Wellington on "Scots Women," 2001, as well as the video linked above.
Hallowe'en · Jean Redpath   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzH8ODDi3EI&list=PLLKu4d-qUaWLxvlf0aYJgMZlRQ6bsht1B&index=93
Hallowe'en- The Sangsters     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLoNP2UpdjI