Scottish folk

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From:
Date: 27 Jun 99 - 02:27 AM

I got one reply back from the Scots-L mailing list:

Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 07:36:48 +0100
From: Tom Hall ([e-mail])
Subject: Re: [Scots-L] Davey Faa

Davey Faa is a song of the Traveling People. The song can be found in: Jeannie Robertson - Emergent Singer, Transformative Voice by James Porter & Herschel Gower; University of Tennessee Press, ISBN 0-87049-904-1. There are also recordings by Robin Hall & Jimmy MacGregor, as well as Jean Redpath, and, I imagine, by Jeannie Robertson. The tune for this ballad is the wonderful "Tramps and Hawkers." I can supply the text if so desired - Tom

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From:
Date: 26 Jun 99 - 08:28 AM

Interesting. One of the songs they did in that show was the Gaelic Milling song Mile Marbhaisg Air a Ghaol. This means 1000 Curses on Love. Hmmm. I'm going to have to translate the rest of it to see if it does conform to the Gypsy Laddie/et al.

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From:
Date: 26 Jun 99 - 08:23 AM

Hmmm. Went to the Complete Child Ballad listings and there is a #280 entitled The Beggar Laddie.

Also, in looking around, I found this site. VERY interesting. Remember the Black Jack Davey version from above? Well.... Someone did a show where they did as many variants as they could find! Here's the Playlist for the Black Jack Davey Show

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From:
Date: 26 Jun 99 - 07:53 AM

OK looked up THE BEGGAR LADDIE on DT here. It says Child 200, which makes it another variant of the Gypsy Laddie. Really amazing how one song gets mutated into all these variants. AND they all seem to tell a story.

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From:
Date: 26 Jun 99 - 01:27 AM

Standard corruption of Scots Gaelic 'Ghiberlain" (spelling not guaranteed) = beggar. Davy Faa looks like its from some version of The Beggar Laddie (Child $280) or Gaberlunzie Man, or "The Juggler" in vol. 7, #1401 of 'The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection. Cf. "The Pollitick Beggar Man" English broadside ballad version of the mid 17th century.

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From: Indy Lass
Date: 26 Jun 99 - 01:05 AM

I really like Scottish folk music. I have a few of the 'Jean Redpath sings RobertBurns' CDs and Capercaille, Tanahill Weavers, Dick Gaughan, Talitha MacKenzie... I do have a question: could someone explain what 'gaberlunzie man' means. I have an Andy Stewart version of the song and would like to know more about the meaning or story behind it.

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From:
Date: 25 Jun 99 - 07:32 PM

Oopsie!

I made an error on the link for the Martin Carthy version of The Barley Straw

Anyway, try that link instead of the previous one.

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From:
Date: 25 Jun 99 - 07:27 PM

I did some further checking, based on the other titles given, and see that Arlo Guthrie did one version titled Gypsy Davey, while Martin Carthy did one called Barley Straw which is also found in DT DT's version of BARLEY STRAW as well as under the name BLACK JACK DAVEY

Have fun with these

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From:
Date: 25 Jun 99 - 07:07 PM

I just had a look in the Digital Tradition Database, and it has the song there.

DAVY FAA

Hope that helps with your questions.

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From:
Date: 25 Jun 99 - 07:02 PM

I've never heard the song you mentioned, or the performer. However, I remembered the name Davy Faa from a text I was reading online. It had to do with a Child Ballad. Check out this link

Gypsy Laddie - Child Ballad #200

There are references to a couple of other songs.

Subject: RE: Scottish folk
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Jun 99 - 04:37 PM

There's been a nice discussion of "The Great Silkie from Soulskerrie" which has left a few questions unanswered of you are desperate for something to do.

Subject: Scottish folk
From:
Date: 25 Jun 99 - 03:04 PM

Hi, my first time in here. Anyone (a)want to open a discussion of Scottish folk music? Or do you (b)know anyone needing Scottish folk music research carried out. (a)fr'instance does anyone know anything about the ballad Davey Faa recorded by Stravaig? Please get in touch. Not you Ewan, see you on Wednesday.