Lyr Req: Coll MacKenzie (Archie Fisher?)

Subject: Lyr Req: COLL MACKENZIE
From: GUEST,Marianne
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 03:44 AM

"Coll MacKenzie" is sung by Archie Fisher, the great folksinger and musician. I think he wrote it too. I do not understand some of the words. If you can give to me help I will appreciate it.
I saw Archie Fisher sing "Coll MacKenzie" on YouTube.com. I think something was wrong with the video because I could not read his lips to understand the words.
I love YouTube. I have listend to so much folk music on that site, such as Bernice Johnson Reagon and Buffy Ste. Marie singing with Pete Seeger on Rainbow Quest, Hamish Henderson, The Seekers, The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers, Mary Black, Mary Robinson, and the Pogues but I have to wait to be older, The Chieftains, Andy Irvine, and many more. I found it this year and you can save the favourite music to the computer. People listen and then are encouraged to cover original songs which is good. Someday I will play my recorder and my violin.
My father said it is permitted to ask you. He accesses Mudcat.org and YouTube sometimes, but he resonates to American blues, unlike me who is lifted up by Celtic mostly.   
Sincerely,
Marianne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coll MacKenzie (Archie Fisher?)
From: maeve
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 07:09 PM

Hello, Marianne. I'm glad you like Archie Fisher's song, "Coll MacKenzie". He hasn't released that one on an album yet, so I'm reluctant to post the words here without his permission. What I will do is ask him about it next time we speak, ok? Keep on listening to Archie's music. He's one of the best.

Best wishes to you,

Maeve in Maine, USA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coll MacKenzie (Archie Fisher?)
From: GUEST,Marianne
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 07:24 AM

Thank you Ms. Maeve. This is very ok. This is impressive that you can speak to Archie Fisher. I am now in two degrees of a legendary folksinger and in one degree of a very kind person.   
My stepmother gave for a birthday gift to me "Sunsets I've Galloped Into" one CD of Archie Fisher. She is a sophiscated musician who likes Bach best of all and also jazz and she listens to my favourite music with me and explains the sources and the influences. She said she is glad I opend folk music to her.
My friend travelled to Maine with her family to view the New England changing tree colours in autumn. Her photos are beautiful.

Best wishes to you too,

Marianne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coll MacKenzie (Archie Fisher?)
From: GUEST,Paul Jensen Junior
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 09:13 AM

Hi there. I would very much like the lyrics to Coll MacKenzie if possible. Its such a great song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coll MacKenzie (Archie Fisher?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 11:23 AM

Maybe by working together we can work out the lyrics. You can hear the song at YouTube. There is a long spoken introduction; the actual song starts at about 2:05. Here's my attempt at a transcription. Every ellipsis stands for a word or more that I can't understand. I've numbered the lines for easy reference. Now, who can fill in some of the missing words?

1. Who is Coll Mackenzie? I'll have you understand
2. That I am a ... crofter bound down for Newfoundland.

3. I lost my darling Catherine; she died in giving birth,
4. And to raise three sons without her was the hardest thing on earth.

5. They've grown and gone to Glasgow to brave the factories ....
6. They work as hard ... as a deer yoked to the plough.

7. Now I laboured seven years just to pay my tax and ...
8. When a letter came from Canada that brought the saddest news.

9. My brother drowned off Saint John's in the spring of sixty-three,
10. And his widow wrote to say she'd be well disposed to me;

11. And she sent along a likeness from a ...
12. In her fancy frock and parasol with a sunbonnet on.

13. Now there's nothing here to keep me ...
14. And the fishing's ... lonesome with ....

15. So I set off to Liverpool to work my passage o'er
16. On a leaky trawling clipper called the Queen of Baltimore.

17. And I had no strong oilskins to keep me dry and warm,
18. ... to keep me from the storm.

19. And I arrived in Boston a weak and weary man,
20. And I jumped a ... schooner bound north to Newfoundland.

21. They listened to my story as we sat around the stove,
22. And they wondered at the journey I'd made for sake of love.

23. And they fed me beef and salt cod, sourdough and cans o' tea,
24. And I was hale and hearty when I reached the Saint John's quay.

25. And they showed me to a cabin that stood above the bay,
26. And they laughed and joked together as they went on their away.

27. And the knock was answered swiftly by a woman ....
28. When I asked for Widow Janet, the gloom broke o'er her face.

29. "Now, if you be Coll Mackenzie," the handsome woman smiled,
30. "It is my younger sister that has you so beguiled."

31. She led me to the parlour and there to my surprise
32. Sat my elder brother Angus full ... before my eyes.

33. And the lassie in the likeness was standing by the door,
34. And we all embraced each other, the happiest of four.

35. Then we ... that was sailin' on the bay,
36. ... sons of ... far away.

37. Now my name is Coll Mackenzie and I'll have you understand
38. That I am a Saint John's fisherman ....

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Coll MacKenzie (Archie Fisher)
From: maeve
Date: 17 Jun 11 - 09:12 AM

Lyrics and interwoven glossary, from Archie himself.
Thank you, Archie!
Maeve

**************************************************
Coll MacKenzie

My name is Coll MacKenzie and I'll have you understand
That I am an Assynt crofter bound out for Newfoundland
I lost my darling Catherine, she died in giving birth
And to raise three sons without her was the hardest thing on earth
They've grown and gone to Glasgow to face the factory's row
And their work is hard and crueller than a deer yoked to the plough
I'd laboured seven years just to pay my tax and fues (rent for land paid in money or grain instead of military service)
When a letter came from Canada that brought the saddest news
My brother drowned off St. John's in the spring of '53
And his widow wrote to say that she'd be well disposed to me
She sent along a likeness from a Callotype salon
(Early photographic system)
In her fancy frock and parasol with her Sunday bonnet on

There's nothing here to keep me the bracken's soured the land
And the fishing's lean and lonesome when you're sailing single hand
So I set off for Liverpool to work my passage o'er
On a leaky, tarry clipper called the Queen of Baltimore
I had no boots or oilskins to keep me dry and warm
Just my bauchly, (1) brogues, and plaidie (2)to keep me from the storm (1 shabby 2 tartan blanket)

I arrived in Boston a weak and a weary man
And I jumped a Grand Bank Schooner bound north for Newfoundland
They listened to my story as we sat around the stove
And they wondered at the journey I'd made for sake of love
They fed me beef and salt cod, sourdough and cans of tea
And I was hale and hearty when we reached the St. John's quay

They lead me to a cabin that stood about the bay
And they laughed and joked together as they went on their way
My knock was answered swiftly by a woman of fine grace
When I asked foe widow Janet a grin broke o'er her face
"If you be Coll MacKenzie", the handsome woman smiled
"Then it is my younger sister that has you so beguiled".
She showed me to the parlour where there to my surprise
Sat my elder brother Angus full fit before my eyes
The lassie in the likeness was standing by the door
And we all embraced each other, the happiest of four
And they pointed to a clinker straight a-sailing on the bay
Crewed by three sons of Assynt I thought were far away

My name is Coll MacKenzie and I'll have you understand
That I am a St. John's fisherman come o'er from fair Scotland

Archie Fisher 2006
Inspired by a combination of folk tale and history.
**************************************************************

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Coll MacKenzie (Archie Fisher)
From: maeve
Date: 17 Jun 11 - 09:56 AM

Here are the same lyrics with the glossary notes placed at the bottom, a link added regarding Assynt, and a couple minor typos corrected. (Maeve)
*******************************************
Coll MacKenzie

My name is Coll MacKenzie and I'll have you understand
That I am an Assynt crofter bound out for Newfoundland *
I lost my darling Catherine, she died in giving birth
And to raise three sons without her was the hardest thing on earth
They've grown and gone to Glasgow to face the factory's row
And their work is hard and crueller than a deer yoked to the plough
I'd laboured seven years just to pay my tax and fees *
When a letter came from Canada that brought the saddest news
My brother drowned off St. John's in the spring of '53
And his widow wrote to say that she'd be well disposed to me
She sent along a likeness from a Callotype salon *
In her fancy frock and parasol with her Sunday bonnet on

There's nothing here to keep me the bracken's soured the land
And the fishing's lean and lonesome when you're sailing single hand
So I set off for Liverpool to work my passage o'er
On a leaky, tarry clipper called the Queen of Baltimore
I had no boots or oilskins to keep me dry and warm
Just my bauchly brogues and plaidie to keep me from the storm *

I arrived in Boston a weak and a weary man
And I jumped a Grand Bank Schooner bound north for Newfoundland
They listened to my story as we sat around the stove
And they wondered at the journey I'd made for sake of love
They fed me beef and salt cod, sourdough and cans of tea
And I was hale and hearty when we reached the St. John's quay

They lead me to a cabin that stood about the bay
And they laughed and joked together as they went on their way
My knock was answered swiftly by a woman of fine grace
When I asked for widow Janet a grin broke o'er her face
"If you be Coll MacKenzie", the handsome woman smiled
"Then it is my younger sister that has you so beguiled".
She showed me to the parlour where there to my surprise
Sat my elder brother Angus full fit before my eyes
The lassie in the likeness was standing by the door
And we all embraced each other, the happiest of four
And they pointed to a clinker straight a-sailing on the bay
Crewed by three sons of Assynt I thought were far away

My name is Coll MacKenzie and I'll have you understand
That I am a St. John's fisherman come o'er from fair Scotland

Archie Fisher 2006
Inspired by a combination of folk tale and history.
~~~~~~
* Glossary Notes:

Assynt - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assynt

Callotype salon - Early photographic system

fees - rent for land paid in money or grain instead of military service

bauchly brogues and plaidie - shabby shoes and tartan blanket

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coll MacKenzie (Archie Fisher?)
From: maeve
Date: 17 Jun 11 - 05:44 PM

After double checking with Himself, the following should be correct:
***************************
Coll MacKenzie

My name is Coll MacKenzie and I'll have you understand
That I am an Assynt crofter bound out for Newfoundland *
I lost my darling Catherine, she died in giving birth
And to raise three sons without her was the hardest thing on earth
They've grown and gone to Glasgow to face the factory's row
And their work is hard and crueller than a deer yoked to the plough
I'd laboured seven years just to pay my tax and feus *
When a letter came from Canada that brought the saddest news
My brother drowned off St. John's in the spring of '53
And his widow wrote to say that she'd be well disposed to me
She sent along a likeness from a Callotype salon *
In her fancy frock and parasol with her Sunday bonnet on

There's nothing here to keep me the bracken's soured the land
And the fishing's lean and lonesome when you're sailing single hand
So I set off for Liverpool to work my passage o'er
On a leaky, tarry clipper called the Queen of Baltimore
I had no boots or oilskins to keep me dry and warm
Just my bauchly brogues and plaidie to keep me from the storm *

I arrived in Boston a weak and a weary man
And I jumped a Grand Bank Schooner bound north for Newfoundland
They listened to my story as we sat around the stove
And they wondered at the journey I'd made for sake of love
They fed me beef and salt cod, sourdough and cans of tea
And I was hale and hearty when we reached the St. John's quay

They lead me to a cabin that stood about the bay
And they laughed and joked together as they went on their way
My knock was answered swiftly by a woman of fine grace
When I asked for widow Janet a grin broke o'er her face
"If you be Coll MacKenzie", the handsome woman smiled
"Then it is my younger sister that has you so beguiled".
She showed me to the parlour where there to my surprise
Sat my elder brother Angus full fit before my eyes
The lassie in the likeness was standing by the door
And we all embraced each other, the happiest of four
And they pointed to a clinker straight a-sailing on the bay
Crewed by three sons of Assynt I thought were far away

My name is Coll MacKenzie and I'll have you understand
That I am a St. John's fisherman come o'er from fair Scotland

Archie Fisher 2006
Inspired by a combination of folk tale and history.
~~~~~~
* Glossary Notes:

Assynt - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assynt

Callotype salon - Early photographic system

feus - Duties; rental payment in money or kind rather than having the duty as a tenant to take up military service at the landlord behest. (Historical tax)

bauchly brogues and plaidie - shabby shoes and tartan blanket
Creuler than is right ...   
*************************************
Any further errors are most likely my own. Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coll MacKenzie (Archie Fisher?)
From: GUEST,Marianne
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 06:48 AM

Thank you, Ms. Maeve and Archie Fisher and Jim Dixon, for posting the "Coll MacKenzie" lyrics AND adding the glossary notes to explain the Scots words meanings!

I study Scottish history now, mostly on my own. Ms. Maeve, I am an autodidact now! But maybe not entirely since my stepmother teaches me how to find the books I need since 'it is important to know how to do one's own research,' except when I am utterly frustrated and then she helps. Someday I will go to Scotland and research the original documents. I have total respect for Archie Fisher's knowledge of not only major historical events such the hardess of the croft laws but also everyday life such as the Callotype Salon which awakened curiosity in me about the evolution of photograohy. And to encorporate all into a song! Merveille!

He brings such feeling to his poetry; the lyrics "crueller as a deer yoked to a plough" is even more sad than "to raise 3 sons without her was the hardest thing on earth."

To explain why I am so late to acknowledge your posting: I really checked the thread obsessively at first, but I am too shy to contact you which my stepmother says is good since "it is rude to harry people who freely offer to aid one and most worthwhile things take time so this can be approached as an opportunity to cultivate patience" with which she once had difficility also. Then my father simultaneously worried about the Internet to the point of limiting my time to almost zero AND was offered work in Luxembourg and Belgium to arrange and conduct which is heaven to him. This time the cadet members of the family travelled along since it is not the Third World where he used to do good medical works. I never saw my father relaxed before; he is happier after four months of music. I enjoyed, I was edified. So, this combination effectively stopped my web searches until we are now "back in what passes for homebase" (my stepmother can be sarky about our peripateticness).

I appreciate this so much and I am glad that some other people wanted to understand the lyrics too. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Three true thanks to 3 kind people.

Sincerely
Marianne