Lyr Req: Coracree/Corrichree/Corachree

Subject: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: GUEST,Conan McDonnell
Date: 02 Feb 17 - 08:14 PM

Hi

I wonder if anyone can help.
Back in the early 90's I recorded a song from the radio.
The cassette is long gone but it was a male Scottish singer with acoustic
guitar accompaniment.
I believe the song was called Coracree but I can't find any references to it, or at least I'm not looking in the right places. The song was about a wife or daughter being sent out on the game: "many's the bonnie lassie goes daily on the ...' - and that's where my memory reaches its limit.
It was a lovely song, nicely sung and I would like to hear it again.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Conan McDonnell

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 03 Feb 17 - 06:24 AM

I believe it was recorded by the talented Scots singer, Norman Kennedy - beautiful song.
If you have a problem locating it, I'm pretty sure we have Norman's recording which I'll happily pass on - as you are not a member you might be able to get my contact number from Joe Offer
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: Gutcher
Date: 03 Feb 17 - 12:48 PM

No game, as you understand the term Donal, is inferred --the young man has seduced the lass and is pointing out that many another lass has enjoyed the same experience without being found out.
Can remember singing the song in Tarland some forty years back, on the fourth day of a five day wedding celebration, and was somewhat taken aback to find that none of the local people had ever heard of it.
Tarland of course being the locale of the song.

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: Gutcher
Date: 03 Feb 17 - 01:11 PM

Twas on a simmers evening aa went oot tae tak the air
An cummin roon bi Tarlan toon aa spied a lovely pair
The youth was tall an handsome, the maid was fair tae see
An aa kent their destination wasnae far fae Corachree.

When haff roads up the avenue they sat doon tae tak a rest
He took her in his airms sayin ma dear aa loe ye best
Aa maiden ye hae sitten doon an ye"ll aye be maid tae me
But it"s maid again ye"ll never walk on the girse o Corachree

Have to make my supper now-- will dredge up the rest from my memory later.

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 03 Feb 17 - 02:44 PM

Just a thought, Jim, but would Norman have recorded it with guitar accompaniment, which is what Conan was asking about ?
I have 2 favourite versions of that song, both by Aberdeen singers.
Tom Spiers [ of "The Gaugers" ], I'm fairly certain recorded it, and it also used to be sung by Alan Carr, now resident in the USA, but coming back to the UK for some gigs this summer. As I think about it, I'm fairly certain neither of these singers would have recorded it with guitar accompaniment either, so that's maybe not much help to Conan either.
Maybe the best version I ever heard would have been by that great Fife singer, Jimmy Hutchison.
I really can't think who might have recorded it with guitar accompaniment, and wait with interest to see if the singer can be identified.
PS - maybe Jack Beck with "Heritage" ?

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 03 Feb 17 - 02:47 PM

PS - sorry, Jim, I was assuming Conan was looking for the particular recording with guitar accompaniment, but if he's looking for any recording of the song, then it has certainly never been sung better than by Norman Kennedy, [ IMHO ] whose recording of it must have been one of the earliest.

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 03 Feb 17 - 02:52 PM

PPS - sorry to be a bit nerdy here, but I've just remembered that the 4-piece band from the States of which Allan Carr is a member, and who are touring Scotland in May, is called "Coracree"

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 03 Feb 17 - 03:04 PM

Yes, Kenny- Jimmy Hutchison's version is excellent as you say. It's on his TRADITION BEARERS CD- available from www.folkmusic.net. The notes say he learnt it from Norman Kennedy, who got it from Jimmy McBeath.
To clarify, Jimmy is an adopted Fifer whose origins are in South Uist- he has songs from both places..

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 03 Feb 17 - 03:41 PM

Kenny
I assume Jimmy McBeath's version was the earliest - Im pretty sure I heard it, but Norman's was the one that knocked me sideways
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: Effsee
Date: 03 Feb 17 - 04:26 PM

Kenny, are you forgetting Norman Stewart & Janice Clark recorded it on their album "Iolair" in the '70s?

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 04 Feb 17 - 05:16 AM

I'm sure you're right with that, Jim.
"Effsee" - you may well have identified the recording which Conal was asking about. I'll ask Janice next time I see her.
A' the best.
PS - Conal - Norman Kennedy's version - which is listed as "Corachree" [sic], is the only version available through "iTunes", but you'll probably not get better.

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: GUEST,gutcher
Date: 04 Feb 17 - 12:54 PM

Sorry memory is at fault, the rest of the story is there but have not been able to come up with the exact verses and have nothing in writing to refer to, will keep trying--- help appreciated.
The estate and Big Hoose of Corrichree [spelling as per 1870 O.S.map] lies some one and a half miles west of Tarland.

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 04 Feb 17 - 02:41 PM

That's how Jimmy Hutchison spells it on his CD- with the 'h'- Corachree- can't recall Norman K singing this but you wouldn't hear much better than Jimmy H's!

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree
From: GUEST,gutcher
Date: 05 Feb 17 - 01:02 PM

To continue:---

[3] Weel Sandy lad ye"ll ne"er deny the ill that ye hae din
    For ma bonnet strings hae broken an ma hair flees wi the win
    Ma maidenheed has tain a flicht an gaen awa fae me
    An the session clerk will come tae ken o this nicht at Corrachree

[4] Ach noo ma lass says Sandy ye needna care a fig
    For there"s monies a bonny lassie that gangs daily oure the rig
    There"s monies the bonny lassie aye an jist as guid as ye
    gangs maiden like for aa tae see oure the rigs o Corrachree

[5] ???
    ???
    ???
    An ye"ll easy fin oot aa their beds on the girse o Corrachree

Anyone ???

Subject: Lyric Add Corrichree
From: Gutcher
Date: 19 Feb 17 - 05:42 PM

Twas on a simmers evenin aa went oot tae tack the air
An cummin roon bi Tarlin toon aa spied a lovely pair
The youth was tall an handsome the maid was fair tae see
An aa kent their destination wisnae far fae Corrichree

When haff roads up the avenue they sat doon tae tak a rest
He took her in his airms sayin ma dear aa loe ye best
Aa maiden ye hae sitten doon an ye"ll aye be maid tae me
Bit it"s maid agane ye"ll ne"er walk on the girse o Corrichree

O Sandy lad ye"ll ne"er deny the ill that ye hae din
For ma bonnet strings hae broken an ma hair flees wi the win
Ma maidenheed his tain a flicht an gaen awa fae me
An the session clerk will come tae ken o this nicht at Corrichree


Ach noo ma lass says Sandy ye needna care a fig
For there"s monies the bonny lassie that gangs daily oure the rig
There"s monies the bonny lassie aye an jist as guid as ye
Gangs maiden like for aa tae see oure the rigs o Corrichree

Weel he comes doon in the evenin jist as aften as he can
He comes doon in the evenin jist tae see his bonny Ann
They tell their tale bout auld lang syne whaur naebody dis them see
Bit ye"ll easy fin oot aa their beds on the girse o Corrichree.            


Tarland was in the past noted for the fiddler Peter Milne and in the present for that fine fiddler Paul Anderson.

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree/Corrichree
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 27 Feb 17 - 07:40 AM

We spelled our band name Corachree when we first started out, but no one in the States could pronounce it - we have hilarious recordings of the various manglements "Okra Tree" was my particular favorite. We changed the spelling to Coracree and now hardly ever hear a stumble.

Allan Carr does indeed sing this song and will hopefully add it to our concert repertoire.

We're looking forward to our tour in Scotland and visiting our namesake!

Sarah Gowan

www.coracree.com

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree/Corrichree
From: GUEST,GUEST, Allan
Date: 27 Feb 17 - 08:05 AM

This might be a version I recorded with Martin Hadden on guitar
It's on a Green Linnet LP, Atlantic Bridge from 1987
I still have a puckle left...
The verse with the line" mony's the Bonny lassie gaes daily on the rig"
I've always taken to refer to the stool of repentance she would have to stand upon in the Kirk if they were found out
I got this song from the singing of Jimmy McBeath
And Tom Spiers

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree/Corrichree
From: GUEST,GUEST, Allan
Date: 27 Feb 17 - 08:28 AM

additional second verse:

Twas looks,and coaxed emotions as they went on their way
The win' was fair, the nicht was fine
I heard whit they did say
I happed my plaidie roon me, an I set ma cap agee
Twas a' tae watch their notions
Comin' in by Corachree


Allan Carr

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree/Corrichree
From: Gutcher
Date: 27 Feb 17 - 04:15 PM

Like you Allan I had always assumed that the last line of the 3rd. [4th.] verse meant being subjected to church discipline, having to sit on the cutty stool in full face of the congregation. Why would the session clerk be mentioned if this was not the case.
This line however gives us a clue as to the age of the song, as this form of discipline had fallen out of use prior to the end of the first quarter of the 19th.C..

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree/Corrichree
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 17 - 08:36 AM

Hi everyone

Thank you all so much for the time and effort you have spent in replying to my query.
I must have misheard or, more likely, mis-remembered the lyrics!
It's great to see the full text posted here together with all of the peripheral information without which no understanding of a song can be complete.

I will hunt around for recordings of the song - I vaguely remember that on the version I heard the accompaniment on guitar was quite tasty, and probably in DADGAD or dropped D. However, if there are other equivalent or better versions out there I'd be more than happy to hear them.

Thanks again

Best regards

Conan

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree/Corrichree
From: Gutcher
Date: 13 Mar 17 - 10:24 AM

Sorry Conan for getting your name wrong in my post of 3/2/17.
Put it down to old age.
Any one have any idea when the song was composed/first collected?
Is it one of the country flotters not collected until fairly recent times. I have a few collected in my lifetime, which, as far as I can check do not appear in any printed source eg. "The Ingram Servant Lass",
"The Braes O Kirkmahoe", "Carnwath Mill" [not the one composed in 1946 which is a completely different song, although the sheet music does make mention of an older song having the same title] etc.,etc..
Any information on the three songs mentioned above would be received with thanks.

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree/Corrichree
From: Reinhard
Date: 13 Mar 17 - 12:03 PM

The Traditional Ballad Index lists The Rigs o' Gorrachree with an earliest known date of 1906 in Greig/Duncan Vol. 7 No. 1468 which has three texts and two tunes.

Subject: RE: Singer/lyrics of song, Coracree/Corrichree
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 17 - 01:44 PM

Thanks for the link Reinhard---from it I was able to access the Roud Index, a function I must confess that has eluded me in the past, I must be doited not to be able to crack the forms required for entry to the songs/numbers section.
Having said that I am now able to check on the three songs mentioned in my last post, with others, and have come up with zero results as per my search in many printed collections.

Subject: Lyr Add: CORACHREE (from Norman Kennedy)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 10:35 PM

I have just listened to Norman Kennedy's recording on Spotify; here's my attempt at a transcription. No doubt anyone more familiar with Scots than I am will want to make lots of adjustments in my spelling, plus there are some outright gaps and probable errors that need to be corrected. But I hope this will be helpful to those who are relying on memory.


CORACHREE
As recorded by Norman Kennedy on "Ballads & Songs of Scotland" (Folk-Legacy, 1968)

Twas on a summer's evenin I gaed oot tae tak the air
Fen comin in be Tarland toun I spied a lonely pair
The youth was tall an haunsome and the maid was fair tae see
And I kennt their destination wasnae far fae Corachree

Twas looks and cocks that motions (?) as they did pass me by
The sun was set; the nicht was fine; I heard that they did say
I pulled my plaidie roun me and I set my cap agie
Twas a' tae watch their motions comin in by Corachree

Haufwey up the avenue they baith set doon tae rest
He put his hands aroun her sayin my dear I love ye best
A maiden ye hae sutten doon an … tae me
But a maiden ye'll ne'er walk again on the grass o Corachree

Oh Sandy lad ye'll ne'er deny that deed that ye ha deen
My apron strings are broken; Lord, my hair flees wi the wind
My maidenheid has taen a fricht; it's fairly flown awa
And the session clerk'll get tae ken this deed ye've deen tae me

Cheer up, my bonnie lassie; ye needna care a fig
There's mony's the bonnie lassie gaes daily on the rig
There's mony's the bonnie lassie, aye, an jist as guid as thee
But a maiden ye'll ne'er walk again on the grass o Corachree

He comes doon in the evenin as often as he can
He comes doon in the evenin jist tae see his lonely Anne
They talk their lane o auld lang syne an naebody can see
But ye'll easy find oot a their beds are doon by Corachree

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coracree/Corrichree/Corachree
From: GUEST,Michael Giblin
Date: 06 May 18 - 05:36 AM

You'll find it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux4TxFWj9-Q

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coracree/Corrichree/Corachree
From: GUEST,Conan McDonnell
Date: 13 Feb 21 - 04:35 PM

Just remembered this thread from a while ago, and it was indeed Allan Carr's version I had heard on the radio. Thanks to Michael and everyone else who contributed and who has laid to rest one of those songs that's been bugging me for years.
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back with my thanks.


Hope you're all well

Conan