Origins: Doon in the Wee Room Underneath the Stair

Subject: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 05:44 AM

Hi any catters ( probably from England mainly ) got the lyrics to Down in the wee room, underneath the stairs. ? Great sentimental value as I have fond memories of the late great Allan MacAvoy singing this for many years.

Cheers all, and cat on dudes!!

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 06:40 AM

It's in the Digitrad.. I searched on "Wee Room" and got This...

It's not English, by the way... it's very firmly set in Glasgow. (although I believe Ewan McVicar has identified the original tune as coming from a Laurel & Hardy film)..

I'm too young to have been able to drink in Quin's in Springburn, but I have been in the building before it was demolished. Quin's bar in Bishopbriggs is still there.

Cheers

Steven

Subject: Lyr Add: DOON IN THE WEE ROOM
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 06:41 AM

This one?

DOON IN THE WEE ROOM

Chorus:
Doon in the wee room, underneath the stairs
Everybody's happy, everybody's there
And we're all making merry, each in his chair
Doon in the wee room, underneath the stairs.

Chorus

And when you're tired and weary and you're feeling blue
Don't give way to sorrow, I'll tell you what to do
Just take a tram to Springbun, find a quench pal there
And go down in the wee room, underneath the stairs.

Chorus

Well, Peky went-a-hunting his fortunes for to seek
He left the train at Patrick, and went missing for a week
Now, after months of searching, sorrow and despair
They found him in the wee room, underneath the stairs.

Chorus

And when I'm old and feeble, and my bones are getting sad
I won't get fat and grumpy, like Ian and Derek get
For I'm saving up my wollies, to buy a holy chair
It's off into the wee room, underneath the stairs.

Chorus

From HERE.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 06:42 AM

Trying again for a blicky

THE WEE ROOM UNDERNEATH THE STAIR

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 06:42 AM

beaten to the punch..... ah well

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 06:45 AM

So who are (were) Iain and Derek? The McCalmans were surely too young to have been so immortalized ?

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 06:55 AM

From another site:

Doon In The Wee Room
(Trad / Daniel McLaughlin)

[1990:] Quin's Bar in Springburn no longer exists, but I believe the Quin family are still in the business, in faraway Bishopbriggs. I heard from Brendan McLaughlin, part proprietor of the Scotia Bar, singer and songwriter, 'The song was written by my grandfather, Daniel McLaughlin. We still have the manuscript of it.' The connections are surprising. The Wee Room of the song was in Quin's Bar in Springburn, but the Scotia too had a famous Wee Room. Brendan's father, Tony, remembers the names of the men who had identified seats in Quin's Wee Room, now Tony works part-time in the Scotia. [...] There is in the Glasgow folk scene a reluctance to believe that the writer of the Wee Room song has been identified. People seem to prefer the idea of an unknown composer, so they can feel the song in some way belongs to them, to the streets of the city. But the McLaughlin family have no doubts. They have a copy of the song that includes the extra verses that Ian Davison heard sung once ten years ago in a rugby club. Daniel McLaughlin was 'bard to Quin's Bar', and the family have other pieces written by him, eg 'Burns Night In Quin's'. The family copy of the song has various small differences that suggest it is the original version. [...] Daniel's poetry was religious in tone, and he 'was not proud of The Wee Room or his other songs, which he considered ditties, written to be performed on one special occasion then put aside.' The tune is not original. I mentioned my interest in it to John Eaglesham of the Mitchell Library. 'Funny', he said. 'I was watching an old Laurel and Hardy film on TV recently. A cowboy appeared and began to sing a song Down in the forest, under the trees. To the same tune!' In part because of the 'controversy' over the writer, Brendan has not learned the song, nor does his father sing it. Doon In The Wee Room still belongs to the Glasgow folk fraternity at large. (McVicar, One Singer One Song 118)

[1994:] Then Uncle Willie would sing an army song about Quinn's Pub in the Springburn area of Glasgow, an establishment obviously held in great affection and built under a rocky outcrop that had been made into stairs. It was called Doon In the Wee House and had to be sung whenever Willie was present, and if a do was on, Willie was there. [Words somewhat different.] When it came to the line, "Ah won't get auld an' grumpy", the entire company would rise as one, point an accusatory finger at Maw Clark and shout "Like that auld bugger there!" (Henderson, Finding Peggy 62f)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 07:00 AM

I know that the McCalmans used to include it in their set ..and the version posted here certainly sounds like it was Nick Keir singing...
Ewan McVicar's book One Singer, One Song has a good potted history of the song. I can't really remember exactly what he said, and I'm not going to make it up so that I can post a load of ASB (Authoritative Sounding Bull)...

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 07:04 AM

masato, I salute you.
We are not worthy to lace your Mudcat sneakers

Kneels before the One-Who-Should-Get-Out-More....

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 07:10 AM

Oh right, Steve, I have my treasured copy of "One Singer one Song" right here, will check it out later.

Hey ho hey ho it's off to work we go ......

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Moleskin Joe
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 11:41 AM

The words, as posted, have been taken from the McCalmans recording. I think "holy" should be "hurly" ie a chair you get a hurl in, in this case like a bath chair.

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 11:59 AM

Actually I just had a look at what masato posted.. and I'd like to point out the following:

to Springbun, find a quench pal should be: to Springburn, find auld Quin's Bar there.

Well, Peky went-a-hunting his fortunes for to seek
should be : a king he went.....

He left the train at Patrick, PARtick is a district in Glasgow...

For I'm saving up my wollies, should be bawbees literally halfpennies - any coin of small denomination

talk about yer mondegreens....

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 12:43 PM

I'm looking for a quench pal. Meet me under the stairs.

Willie-O

Oktoberfest tonight

p.s. My pal Nathan Curry recorded this song some years ago with a band called Six Mile Bridge. If you ask, he might still have a copy of the eponymous album, or might put the track back on his mp3.com site

I understand he's in Britain at the moment, so keep your eyes open for him over there.

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 07:29 PM

The words as sung by Ian Davison can be found by following Masato's second link, the one to My Songbook. Nick Keir of The McCalmans clearly sings 'Ian' and 'Derek', which is just their way of personalising the song, I think. Much more engaging that the usual 'other people' etc.

Subject: RE: Lyrics req. for Down in the wee room ple
From: GUEST,Mars Burnside
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 01:51 PM

We have perfomred Wee Room, and will again on November 3 at the Southern Arizona Celtic Festival and Highland Games. One of our singers says it is "hurly" chair and means wheel chair. I don't know, but he is from Scotland and serves to correct the singers on their pronunciation of Scots and Gaelic (sp?) words. Also their meaning. I just play bass and listen to the singers.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: DOON IN THE WEE ROOM
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 02:43 PM

DOON IN THE WEE ROOM
Attributed to the McLaughlan Family
Chorus
(C)Doon in the (G7)wee (C)room,(F) underneath the(C) stair,
(F)Everybody's (C) happy, everybody's (G7)there,
And we're(C) a'makin' merry,(F) each one in his (C) chair,
(F)Doon in the (C)wee room, (G7)underneath the(C) stair.

When yer tired and weary, and yer feelin' blue,
Dont gie way tae sorrow, I'll tell ye what to do
Take a trip tae Springburn, find Quinns bar there,
Go doon tae the wee room, underneath the stair. ... Chorus

The King was oot a'huntin', his fortune for tae seek
He missed the train at partick, went missin' for a week,
Oh after days o' searchin', sorrow and despair,
They fun him in the wee room, underneath the stair, .. Chorus

If yer team has won the day, and ye want tae cheer,
Take a trip tae springburn and order up a beer,
Have yersel a bevvy, gie yersel a terr
Doon in the wee room, underneath the stair. .. Chorus

When ah'm auld and feeble, and ma bones are gettin' set,
Ah'l no get cross and grumpy like other people get,
Ah'm savin' up ma bawbees tae buy a hurly chair,
Tae tak me tae the wee room, undreneath the stair. .. Chorus

This version is taken from Ewan McVicar's Book - One singer One song, there is a dipute about who wrote the tune?

Extra Verses by the McLaughlan Family

What a jolly party, Never better founf
Drinks upon the table friendship all around
Scottish English Irish, Welshmen too come there
They gather in the wee room, underneath the stairs

Where do all the flies go, in the wintertime
Many people wonder, but I don't care a dime
I just know where i go to, when I've the cash to spare,
Straight into the wee room, underneath the stair,

King Solomon was a gay lad, he'd forty wives they say,
I've always found that one wife was plenty any day
So I don't envy Solly, with all his wives so fair
For he's never had the wee room, underbeath the stair

Columbus was a brave man, he sailed the ocean blue
Twas he that found America, if history books are true,
All honour to Columbus, but more famous I declare,
Was the bloke that found the wee room, underneath the stair

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: doon in the wee room
From: Big Tim
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 03:00 PM

Set in Quin's Bar, Bishopbriggs, just north of Glasgow. Sung by the Clutha (Clyde) Folk Group in the sixties. Isn't it the McLaughlin family?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: doon in the wee room
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 03:04 PM

Yes :>}

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: doon in the wee room
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 03:25 PM

Sorry for the typo error, should be McLaughlin,
From Ewan McVicars book - Quin's bar was in Springburn originally, Daniel McLaughlin fiddle player and champion singer was the bard to Quin's bar, Dubiety of the tune came about when Ewan McVicar discussing was the song with John Eaglesham of the Mitchell Library. He had heard the song in a Laurel and Hardy film, The song was sung by a cowboy to the words 'Down in the forest underneath the trees'
Could the tune could still have come from the Glasgow area? Stan Laurel started his career in the Glasgow Music Hall.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: doon in the wee room
From: Big Tim
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 06:40 AM

My old mate and colleague John Eaglesham, of the Mitchell Library! JE of The Clutha, more like! Didn't know Quin's used to be in Springburn. Cheers guys!

Subject: Tune Add: DOON IN THE WEE ROOM
From: MMario
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 04:37 PM

X:1
T:DOON IN THE WEE ROOM
N:from KennyB.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:C
G2F E C2D2|c c B A G4|c c B A G2E2|G G F E D2E F|
G2F E D2C2|c2B A G4|c2B A G2E2|G G F D C4

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: doon in the wee room
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 05:21 PM

The C2D2 in the first bar is wrong , Mario. Should be D2C2

Murray.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: doon in the wee room
From: MMario
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 05:26 PM

duke it out with Kenny, Murray - let me know who wins. *grin*

whoops! never mind - in the second note I got he does agree with you. I'll change it in the file I send out for submission

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: doon in the wee room
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 06:00 PM

Murray
We were 'just testing', I'm totally new to this ABC.
This having to correspond out of the vernacular is really humungous *GR*
Ps Ah kent his brither Airchy Mungous as weel,
PPS he change his name to Cathcairt and was unfortunately hit by a 44b Bus
Back to sleep now, TTFN Kenny B

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: doon in the wee room
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 25 - 12:55 PM

i agree that the tune of doon in the wee room is not called that. i think the tune is usa. i remember playing this song when i had my band years ago. i wonder how my mate learnd the words.

Subject: RE: Origins: Doon in the Wee Room Underneath the Stair
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll
Date: 22 Apr 25 - 12:39 PM

Another 'added' verse was:

Thatcher and her cabinet
Regan and his men
They a' wantit a nuclear war
The only question's when

......argh, I canny mind the rest o' it!
Hope it comes to me or somebody else soon.......?!!!!
- cud be:-

We don't huv tae worry,
We don't huv tae care
Cos we'll be in the Wee Room
Underneath the sterr!