Dear Friends,

I too have "used" Natalie's version to literally march a bride down the aisle. The way she tells it, this version is truly inspired when either a friend or relative was in a pub and was "stiffed" for the tab at the end of the night. The "shaken o' the pocky" referred to his placing his hand in his pocket looking for money to pay the bill. I do not know why this inspired such a beautiful air as this, but it was worthy to play at a wedding as an alternative to the usual bridal march. I do not think that Natalie's version comes from a strathspey, rather this may be an air that she either heard or was given by someone. The shakin' o' the sheets is a totally different song about death. Best version is dear Maddy Prior's singing on a Steeleye CD, the title currently escaping me right now. Good luck with "pocky". It is truly a beautiful tune.

Bob