Lyr Req: Johnny Ra - The Corries

Subject: Lyr Req: Johnny Ra - The Corries
From: GUEST,HerrYuri
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 04:16 AM

I'm trying to figure out the beging of the scots line in Johnny Ra as performed by the Corries. What my ears hear is "toots skae wha you mean tae blaw I ken yu'v gripped a thing or twa". It's really just the first three words I dunnae ken.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Johnny Ra - The Corries
From: GUEST,HerrYuri
Date: 12 Oct 14 - 04:18 AM

Sorry, beginning* typing on phobe at 4 in the morning haha

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Johnny Ra - The Corries
From: GUEST,DR M WIMSATT
Date: 15 Dec 17 - 05:15 PM

I ALSO NEED THE LYRICS FOR WHAT FUNCTIONS AS A CHORUS IN THIS GREAT SONG.

Subject: Lyr Add: I WISH MY GRANNIE SAW YE (broadside)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Dec 17 - 04:39 PM

I found a broadside at the National Library of Scotland that contains another version of the same song:


I WISH MY GRANNIE SAW YE.

I'm Johnny Raw, a civil chiel',
    I was reared up in the kintra,
Nae doubt ye winna ken me weel,
    I'm a' the way frae Fintry.
Altho' I'm boosey, yet I'm fly,
Among the lasses I'm a pry,
And after me they a' do cry,
    I wish my grannie saw ye.

CHORUS: Tits, get awa', ye mean to blaw,
I ken ye' re up tae a thing or twa,
As sure as death, man, Johnny Raw,
    I wish my grannie saw ye.

I woo'd a lass a gey lang time,
    She was a carter's dochter,
At last I thought I'd mak' her mine,
    So the wedding dress I bought her.
Says I, my lass, noo be sincere,
And name the day ye'll be my dear,
She laughed, and whispered in my ear,
    "I wish my granny saw ye."

Yestreen I strolled through the Argyle,
    When a lady said, "Noo, please, sir,
To hold this bairn a little while,"
    For fear the crowd would squeeze her.
I took the bairn, and said I would,
But I thought that she was rather rude,
Says she, as we pushed through the crowd,
    "I wish my granny saw ye."

As we were pushing through the crowd,
    Oh, Lor', I missed the lady,
Quite wonder-strucken there I stood.
    She'd left me with the baby.
But where she went I could not learn,
As in my arms I held the bairn,
The folk cries, "John, you've got your fairin',
    I wish my granny saw ye."

So, noo, I think I'll end my sang,
    It's time that I maun quit it,
I hope I have said naething wrang,
    At least I didna try it.
So, frien's, I canna langer stay,
Some other nicht I'll ca' this way,
But if you'll stand a dram I'll say,
    I wish my granny saw ye.

Subject: Lyr Add: I WISH MY GRANNY SAW YE (Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Dec 17 - 05:56 PM

The Bodleian collection at Oxford has another version. The last 2 verses are closer to what the Corries sang:


I WISH MY GRANNY SAW YE.

I am Johnny Raw, a civil chiel,
I was reared up in the country,
Nae doubt ye winna ken me weel,
I'm a' th' way frae Fintry.
Altho' I'm boosey yet I'm fly,
Among the lasses I'm a pry,
And after me they a' do cry,
I wish my granny saw ye.

CHORUS: Tut's gae awa, ye mean tae blaw,
I ken ye're up to a thing or twa
Is sure as death, I'm Johnny Raw,
I wish my granny saw ye.

I woo'd a lass a gie lang time,
She was a carter's dochter,
At length I thought I'd mak' her mine
The wedding dress I bought her.
Says I, my lass, noo be sincere,
So name the day and be my dear,
She laughed and whisper'd in my ear,
I wish my granny saw ye.

Yestreen I strolled in Argyle Street,
When a lady said, do please, sir,
Will you hold my little baby sweet,
I'm feared the crowd will squeeze her.
I took the bairn, and said I would,
I like to do the ladies good;
She said as we pushed through the crowd
I wish my granny saw ye.

As we were pushing thro' the crowd,
Somehow I missed the lady,
Quite wonder-strucken there I stood,
She had left me with the baby!
But where she went I could not learn,
As in my arms I held the bairn;
The folk cried, John, you've got your fare,
I wish my granny saw ye.

The folks a' gathered round abou',
And laughed at my condition,
Till up came twa policemen stout,
And took me to the station;
To laugh at me they a' began,
And said I was a lucky man
To get a wean made to my han',
I wish my granny saw ye.

Before the Balie's the next day
I made my simple statement,
How the lady run away,
And left me with the infant;
At length the Bailie he did say,
You and the child may go away,
Find a nurse and for it pay,
So wish my granny saw ye.