Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song

Subject: Lyr Add: HASTA LUEGO (Frank Rae)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 09:45 AM

Could I please have a bit of help in ensuring that I have accurately interpreted and correctly spelled the Scots words of the song Hasta Luego by Frank Rae which is written below?
A YouTube recording of Frank Rae singing his song Hasta Luego is now accessible HERE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Js_h1nR7iY
The song was is to be re-released on a new Greentrax recording on August 1st called No Pasaran (They shall not pass) - Scots in the Spanish Civil War. See http://www.greentrax.com/music/artists/reviews/no-pasaran/

This song was originally recorded on the CD From Blantyre to Barcelona Further details of this CD can be found here thread.cfm?threadid=143174


Rab didn'a go to the football that day,
Well the league it was just aboot one anyway
And he said there was something he just heard today
And he spoke about folk he called fascists
He said "you're old enough noo Tam, to go on your own
I'm sure that you ken the right bus to get on
But I wasna' to tell oor Ma where he was gone
And he said he was headed for Paris

CHORUS
He said "gae me a hug and gae me a smile
Ask a man and he'll lift you o'er the turnstile
Waive your red banner and hear the crowd roar
But always remember it's football no' war"

At the end of our road Rab bumped into some mates
Who quizzed him about the International Brigades
They said he was daft, he said he couldna' wait
To march into Spain wi' his brothers
Aye Rab telt to them, that ta him it was clear
"If we don't fight them there, we will fight them there"
He asked them to join him, said "there's nothing to fear
Just as long as they all stood together

CHORUS

He said life's no' like football where the sides are all square
Wi' a ref in the middle to make sure it's fair
Sometimes the others need mare than our prayers
And he fer one wouldna' ignore them
Then he slipped me a tanner that I've still never spent
Said " hasta luego", whatever that meant
He ruffled my hair, smiled, turned and went
And that was the last time I saw him

CHORUS

So, I gave him a hug and I gave him a smile
I asked a man and he lifted me over the turnstile
And I waived my red banner and heard the crowd roar
And I always remember it's football no' war

Coda: The Red Banner

I am collecting the words to post on another Mudcat thread, Songs in English about the Spanish Civil War, which includes the song here
http://mudcat.org/admin2/editthreads.cfm?MessageID=2911475

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 01:05 PM

should line #2 read "the league, it was just about WON anyway" - ie, decided, the match was a unimportant in that sense?

There's a thread somewhere else about "why people don't go to folk clubs any more" and I think this sort of thing is the reason. It's about something real and understandable, in a way that wailing dirges about hard-done-by ploughboys in 17th century Shropshire have ceased to be.

It's why songs like "Wild Rover" and "Black Velvet Band" retain their popularity; they are simple and singable, and the meaning is clear.Look at the way "Over The Hills And Far Away" has returned from obscurity, embodied by Sharpe's sweaty, dusty Napoleonic riflemen. The sailors having a shout at the end of the day around the capstan, and showing off their dance steps in "Master and Commander" would be the same thing.

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: Howard Jones
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 02:01 PM

I wonder why a song about something which happened 75 years ago should any more relevant today than a wailing dirge about 17th century ploughboys. Or any less relevant, for that matter.

As for the meaning of the "Wild Rover" being clear, it's actually a temperance song, although you wouldn't think so they way it's usually sung nowadays.

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 04:54 PM

should line #2 read "the league, it was just about WON anyway" - ie, decided, the match was a unimportant in that sense

Yes GUEST, that sounds much more likely although curiously the meaning which I attributed to the line was pretty much the same. I will correct the spelling on the Songs in English About the Spanish Civil War thread thread.cfm?threadid=128093#Fitba
Thank you

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 07:42 PM

There are a number of words which should have an ae ending, e.g didnae, wasnae, couldnae, wouldnae.
But the one that confuses me is Gae in the chorus, which is indeed how Frank pronounces it, but most Scots would say Gie (hard g, short for Give).

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 08:29 AM

Thanks Trish - I have done my spelling corrections on the other thread- but I left the gae alone.

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: Snuffy
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 10:29 AM

It should be "Wave your red banner"

Waive means to renounce, relinquish etc

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 05:56 PM

Thank you Snuffy. I have only today come across your post with its correction of my typo. I can't correct it in this thread but I have here in the Songs in English About the Spanish Civil War thread

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 04:44 AM

the line "If we don't fight them there, we will fight them there"
I think would make more sense if it was:

"if we don't fight them there, we will fight them *here*"

Meaning: we have to fight them in Spain, or else we'll be facing them at home.

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 06:50 AM

Thanks Scabby Douglas - I thought I had put "here", it is amazing what you don't notice. I will correct it on the other site.

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: GUEST,Frank Rae
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 12:14 PM

Hi, Frank Rae here.
I would be happy to post the lyrics exactly as I wrote them and, as I tend to write and sing in the West Central Scottish venacular, will explain any words that people are struggling to understand. I am just happy that people are listening to it and, hopefully, sining it. Give me a couple of hours.
Cheers

Subject: Lyr Add: HASTA LUEGO (Frank Rae)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 01:13 PM

Hi Frank here again. These are the words. If you need any translation,explanation or pronunciation just ask.


Hasta Luego
Copyright Frank Rae

Rab didnae go tae the fitba' that day
Well, the league, it wis jist aboot won anyway
He said he had something he jist hid tae dae
And he spoke aboot folk he called fascists
He said you're auld enough noo Tam tae go on your own
I'm sure that ye ken the right bus tae get on
But I wisnae tae tell oor Ma where he wis goin'
Then he said he was headin' for Paris


He said gae me a hug and gae me a smile
Ask a man and he'll lift you ower the turnstile
Wave your red banner and hear the crowd roar
But always remember it's fitba' no war

At the end of our road Rab bumped intae some mates
Who quizzed him aboot the International Brigades
They said he was daft he said he couldnae wait
Tae march intae Spain wi' his brothers
Rab telt them a' that tae him it wis clear
If we don't fight them there, we will fight them here
He asked them tae join him said there's nuthin' tae fear
Jist as long as we a' stick thegither

        He said ….etc

Rab said life's no like fitba' when the sides are a' square
Wi' a ref in the middle tae make sure it's fair
Sometimes the others need mair than oor prayers
And he, fur wan, widnae ignore them
Then he slipped me a tanner, tae spend at the game
Said "Hasta Luego", whatever that meant
He ruffled my hair, smiled, turned then went
And that was the last time I saw him

        He said…..etc

So I gave him a hug and I gave him a smile
I asked a man and he lifted me ower the turnstile
I waved my red banner and hear the crowd roar
And I always remember, it's fitba' no war

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 07:08 AM

Thank you Frank. I have been trying to get the words correct for over a year. I have now posted your definitive version on the Mudcat Perm-thread in which I am collecting Spanish Civil War songs: thread.cfm?threadid=128093#2864188 You can access the section about Hasta Luego by clicking on the title in the Songlist.
There is a link there to Frank's YouTube recording of the song and to Myspace where some of his other songs can be heard.

Geoff

Subject: RE: Scots Spelling Spanish Civil War Song
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 12 - 03:46 PM

I believe Frank is from Lanarkshire, as I am and 'gae' is a normal way to pronounce what would be 'give' in English. however I would still write it as 'gie'.unfortunately as Scots tuition in schools is sadly lacking there is no definitive correct answer on any of this!