Lyr Req: McFarlane o the Sprots o Burnieboosie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McFarlane o the Sprots o Burnieboosie
From: Vic Smith
Date: 26 Oct 15 - 01:39 PM

I first heard this song sung by a surviving bothy singer, Adam Young at the TMSA festival in Kinross in 1970.
Of the current singers Carole Prior always makes a fine job of it.

Subject: RE: bothy ballad lyrics
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 30 May 07 - 01:07 PM

The search engine here is good, but of course it can't guess at what you might have meant if you search for a title only and don't use the same spelling under which it was posted. Always use instead a characteristic phrase from the song itself, ideally one which doesn't have too many alternative spellings. In this case, i dinna like quickly finds

MC FARLANE O THE SPROTS O BURNIE BOOZIE / MACFARLAN O THE SPROTTS

You'll see what I mean about spelling issues. The text quoted there is from the Greig-Duncan Collection. Where did the one posted here come from?

Subject: RE: bothy ballad lyrics
From: Drumshanty
Date: 30 May 07 - 12:03 PM

I think I'd go wi the Elphinstone on this one... and Jock Duncan, Geordie Murison, Joe Aitken, Tam Reid, Eric Simpson...

Subject: RE: bothy ballad lyrics
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 May 07 - 11:48 AM

It's Burnieboozle.

Subject: RE: bothy ballad lyrics
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 30 May 07 - 07:04 AM

Ahhh....they don't write 'em like that anymore.

Subject: RE: bothy ballad lyrics
From: Tootler
Date: 29 May 07 - 06:47 PM

Aberdeen University have a page on their website devoted to bothy ballads here

The one you were looking for is there, though I see it has already been posted.

Subject: Lyr Add: MCFARLANE O THE SPROTS O BURNIEBOOSIE
From: akenaton
Date: 29 May 07 - 04:11 PM

^^
Afore that I be tyraneesed as I this while hae been
I'd raither rin frae here tae Birse
Wi peas in baith my sheen
I'd raither dee for wint o breath
Than pine for wint o love
And it's aa because McFarlane married Susie.
Noo Susie's kankered faither and mine could never 'gree
And I fan I'd ging ower that gate
He'd hing his dog at me,
So I sent my friend McFarlane roond tae see fit he could dae,
McFarlane o the Sprots o Burnieboosie.

Chorus
I dinna like McFarlane, I'm safe enough tae state
His lug would cast a shadow ower a sax fit gate
He's saft as ony gorblin and sliddery as a skate
McFarlane o the Sprots o Burnieboosie.

McFarlane spak nae word for me but plenty for himsel
He reesed the lassie's barley scones
Her kibbuk and her cail
Till her faither cried oot "Sprotty man, you should try yer luck yersel"
Tae McFarlane o the Sprots o Burnieboosie
Though McFarlane is the grimmest chiel
For twenty mile aroon
Though they buy his photograph tae fleg the rottens frae the toon
He kittled up his spunk at this
And spiered gin she'd come doon
Tae be mistress of the Sprots o Burnieboosie.

I dinna like McFarlane, I tell it's a fact
He's a nose for splittin hailstanes and humphy back
He's legs like gutteperka, ilka step his knees gang knack
McFarlane o the Sprots o Burnieboosie
He said he wis baith able, tae play at coup the ladle
Wi a ledder ower a treacle cask
And ca the churn forbye,
Anither o his winners wis sawdust mixed wi cinners
Was the spice for mettin hens at Burnieboosie
An educated ostrich frae the zoo at Timbuctoo
He had for scrattin up his neeps
So he hidna them tae pu'
I never hear the like o that come oot o ony mou'
But McFarlane o the Sprots o Burnieboosie.

I dinna like McFarlane, it's awfu but it's true
A pewter speen was tint in Jock McFarlane's mou'
He couldna weel be grimmer, taks his porridge wi a skimmer
McFarlane o the Sprots o Burnieboosie.

Oh a dirl o the teethache's nae particularly sweet
But love's the only pain on earth that ever gart me greet
It's just like kittley chilblains
Roon yer heart instead o your feet
It was aggravated by the sicht of Susie
Noo friends and kind philosophers
Ye've heard what me befell
Never lippen tae the middle man
But dae yer work yersel
Or I'll bet my hindmost sark that
Ye're a day ahint the market
As was I when I sent McFarlane roon tae Susie.

I dinna like McFarlane, I'm fairly aff o Jock
I dinna like McFarlane nor McFarlane's folk
May Susie be nae turtle, but brings the tangs or spurtle
Doon ower the heid o Jock o Burnieboosie.


Cheers ...Ake

Subject: bothy ballad lyrics
From: GUEST,crocket8
Date: 29 May 07 - 03:35 PM

does anyone know the lyrics to macfarline o' the sproats o' burnie boozy, it is a bothy ballad from the north east of scotland