Lyr Req: Alan MacLean aka The Ministers Son

Subject: Alan MacLean
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 15 May 03 - 05:50 PM

Anyone know where I might find the lyrics to a Scottish Ballad"Alan MacLean" sometimes known as "The Ministers Son" Ewan MacColl recorded it ages ago but I have not heard it in over thirty five years

Subject: RE: Alan MacLean
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 16 May 03 - 01:35 PM

refesh.john

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Alan MacLean aka The Ministers Son
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 May 03 - 01:48 PM

If nothing else, you might look through MacColl's site to find the name of the album he recorded it on: click here

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Alan MacLean aka The Ministers Son
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 16 May 03 - 02:23 PM

Number 2511 in the Roud Folk Song Index; also known as The Aulton College Hall, under which title it appears in Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs (II, 1881, pp. 184-5). Rather popular in the early years of the 20th century, when Gavin Grieg and James Duncan found 18 or so sets in Aberdeenshire. MacColl published two versions; one from Willie Mathieson (Scotland Sings, 1953) and one from Charlotte Higgins (Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland, 1977). I don't know which, if either, of these he recorded. They both begin I was born in Cullen.

There is a text, with notes, at  http://www.maxwellplace.demon.co.uk/pandemonium/allanmclean.html, but it's a re-write by David Kilpatrick based on one of the Grieg-Duncan sets, so only approximate to what you are looking for.

Subject: Lyr Add: ALAN MacLEAN aka THE MINISTER'S SON
From: yrlancslad
Date: 16 May 03 - 07:23 PM

I was born in Cullen,
A ministers son,
Brocht up wi guid learnin
Till my schooldays were done

Iwent to thew college
Astudent to be
but the marriage at Westfield
has quite ruined me

There was Grant and Mackenzie
MacDonald and I
and we went to the wedding
Pretty girls for to spy

We danced and we sang
and we took great delight
An bonny Sally AllenCam oft in my sight

O Sally, dear Sally
Will you tak a dram?
O yes my dear Alan
If it comes from your hand

I gied her a dance and I gied her a dram
And I asked her quite kindly
If she'd go to the broom

She disliked my offer
But gave the least froon
Says she my dear Alan
Had it been my doom

Sowe went to the broom
In the middle o'the night
We had neither coal nor candle
But the moon gave us light

But her father next morning
To the College he came
He was all in a passion
At Alan MacLean

If its true says the Regent
As I fear its no lie
This day from Aulton College
Young Alan must fly

Tomorrows the graduation
And Tuesdays the Ball
But we'll banish young Alan
From the Aulton College hall

My fathers a minister
He preaches at Tain
My mother died i'the Hielands
And I dare'na gae hame

Its I inteded a minister
But that winna do
Its now for a doctor
That I maun persue

Prince Charles the Royal
Lies out in the bay
Takin'on goods and passengers
And she'll tak'me

Fare ye weel Aulton College
Likewise Aberdeen
Fare ye weel Sally Allen
Who lives by yon green

If ever I return again
AsI hope that I shall
We will have a merry bottle
Near the Aulton College Hall

Ay if ever I return again
As I hope that I shall
I will marry Sally Allen
In spite o'them all

Must be 40 years since I last sang this myself, it came into my repertoire after hearing MacColl do it live. Sorry I'm a better singer than I am a typist but hope you can make sense of it and go 0on to sing it yourself.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Alan MacLean aka The Ministers Son
From: GUEST,Dave S
Date: 18 May 03 - 08:47 AM

Many thanks indeed for your kind response to my enquiry. I had spent some time doing MacColl searches and they directed me to a book"Personal Choice" which was published in the late fifties and to which I had access for a short while during the sixties. However for all his massive recorded output there is reletivley little around these days on CD. The versions posted by Malcolm Douglas and yrlancslad are invaluable; if ever you visit Traditions at the Tiger, Long Eaton, Notts., I`ll buy you a pint. Honest.