Lyr Add: The Shepherd's Song (Willie Scott)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Shepherd's Song (Willie Scott)
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 04:40 PM

I see the Mudelves have been at it again! Please - the song isn't by Willie Scott, though he is it's principle source, he got it from his brother & from 1 (?) other singer. Please amend!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Shepherd's Song (Willie Scott)
From: Reinhard
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 12:24 PM

Most of the traditional Topic albums are catalogued in the Roud index. Try looking for Shepherd's Song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Shepherd's Song (Willie Scott)
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 11:44 AM

Ah - well I guess it's on VOTP 20 then, which I don't appear to have. Still not a huge fan of the VOTP format. Topic really need to get all that stuff on-line and cross-indexed according to singer as well as song, like Max Hunter.

Singer first, of course...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Shepherd's Song (Willie Scott)
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 06:42 AM

It's on Voice of the People, Volume 20, 'There is man upon a farm', TSCD 670 Track 8.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Shepherd's Song (Willie Scott)
From: Reinhard
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 06:37 AM

Yup, it's on There Is a Man Upon the Farm (The Voice of the People Volume 20).

Subject: Lyr Add: The Shepherd's Song (Willie Scott)
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 22 Mar 12 - 06:05 AM

Surprised that this isn't here already, as I'm sure it'll be a delight to lovers of those trade related songs that give us rare insights into the CVs of long-vanished workers - not to mention the near perfect poetry of the thing. From the singing of the great Willie Scott, the title track of his 1968 Topic LP (recorded by Bill Leader). Maybe it's on VOTP somewhere too?

*

THE SHEPHERD'S SONG
(Willie Scott)

I'm a shepherd and I rise ere the sun is in the skies,
I can lamb the yowes wi ony o them aa;
An I like my flock to feed, an look fair and fresh indeed,
But I wish the cauld east winds would never blaw.

CHORUS
I can smear me sheep and dip, I can udderlock and clip,
I can lamb the yowes wi ony o them a;
I can parrock, I can twin, aye, an cheat them wi a skin,
But I wish the cauld east winds would never blaw.

When the winter time is hear, for their lives I sometimes fear,
Tae some sheltered nook my flock I'll gently caa;
Or in the morning grey, I'll turn them tae the brae,
Or seek them mang the tooring wreaths o snaw.

In the lambing time I wot, it was little sleep I got,
But when the summer's bonny breazes blaw;
On yonder bonny hill, I'll lie and sleep my fill
When the lambs are running roon aboot me braw.

I can cut and merk and spean, or drive them to the train,
Though their dams be rinnin bleatin in a raw;
I can stand the merket through, and richt well I sell them too,
An my maister's money safely bring it aa.

I can work in time o need, I can sow or hoe or weed;
I can swing the scythe wi ony o them aa;
I can cut the corn and bin, and richt braw stooks leave behin
That'll stand the autumn winds when hooses faa.

And when I've my work though the nicht be e'er sae dark
At a swaggering step I'll hie mesel awa
Tae my lassie, dearest yin, she's the best beneath the sun
An she'll name the day we'll nae be longer twa.

Now my neebor herds beware, when ye gang tae show or fair.
The fiery liquor never taste ava;
Just thoule your drouth avee, till your ain braw hills ye'll see
And the bonny bubblin streams will quell it aa.

Cut - castrate
Merk - mark
Parrock / Twin / Cheating with a skin - procedures by way of assuring adoption of a lamb by another stronger (or living) yewe.
Spean - seperate lamb from mother
Udderlock - removing wool from udders so lambs can feed

*

Here's my own version:

http://soundcloud.com/sedayne-fiddlesangs/the-shepherds-song-9-3-12