Origins: Gin I Were Where Gaudie Rins

Subject: Origins: gin i were where the gardie rins
From: Albatross
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 10:36 AM

Anybody know the origins of a north east Scottish song from Aberdeenshire which starts:

Gin I were where the Gardie rins
Gardie rins
Gardie rins
Oh Gin I were where the Gardie rins
At the fit o' Benachie

The song contains the local Scottish dialect words (Doric Language) which is descended from Old Norse (as opposed to Gaelic).
Doric words such as Quine (Woman) and Speir (question) directly relate to modern day Norwegian (kvinne and Spoer).

Benachie is a local small mountain with the remains of a pre historic hill fort on top.

Subject: RE: Origins: gin i were where the gardie rins
From: GUEST,greg stephens(cookieless)
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 10:48 AM

Try having a look with spellings Gadie or Gaudie in the threads, or the DT, I have a feeling this will have been discussed before.

Subject: RE: Origins: gin i were where the gardie rins
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 12:00 PM

Here complete with midi are the words. Click the link that takes you to the other version, where you will get a slightly fuller history of this song.
Please note correct spelling, I know it's difficult for non Scots.
Giok

Subject: RE: Origins: gin i were where the gaudie rins
From: Albatross
Date: 10 Feb 06 - 10:32 AM

Many thanks:

Greg and John 'Giok'.

Subject: RE: Origins: gin i were where the gardie rins
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 10 Feb 06 - 07:25 PM

Both Gadie and Gaudie are sufficiently often used to be "correct" spellings; Scottish lexicographers, having to juggle a whole series of quite distinct dialects, have generally not attempted to define standard spellings. Gardie, however, is wrong!

The song has been discussed here in the past at some length (links above).