Lyr Req: Wild Old Tune (The McCalmans)

Subject: Lyr Req: Wild Old Tune by The McCalmans
From: Folkie Frank
Date: 29 Nov 17 - 07:06 PM

Looking for the lyrics to Wild Old Tune by the McCalmans from their 2002 album Where The Sky Meets The Sea.

Thanks for any help.

Subject: Lyr Add: WILD OLD TUNE (The McCalmans)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Dec 17 - 12:35 PM

Below is my attempt at a transcription. Several parts don't make sense and therefore are probably wrong, but this is the best I can do at this point. We will have to await corrections from other people.


WILD OLD TUNE
As recorded by the McCalmans on "Where the Sky Meets the Sea" (2002)

1. Oh it's good at learnin' the season of the berry-picker
Merry goes the motion of the reel and lusty lassies flicker
In and out the mirthful rout and round about and never quicker
Trip it in the twilight to the wild old tune.

2. And ever as the piper plays we neath the ... [*] rays
We wilderness a case dispel a wilder thread of careless maze
As in and out with joyful shout the youthful rout keep holidays
At dancing till the nightfall to the wild old tune.

3. And it's happy on the hedge when at set of sun the merry reaper
Keeps the reel and looks him gaily round and down the serpent deeper
Till in dreams the music streams and still it seems to ev'ry sleeper
Still their nimble feet obey the wild old tune.

4. Oh it's blithe up the glen in the season of the berry-picker
Merry goes the motion of the reel and lusty lassies flicker
In and out the mirthful rout and round about and never quicker
Trip it in the twilight to the wild old tune.


Notes:
* I suspect the word or phrase he's using here is not English. I am reminded of "paso doble" or "pasodoble," a Spanish word for a type of dance step (literally "double step"). I think I hear "doble" but I don't recognize the word before it; it sounds like "fadey-doble." I have no idea what it means. I'm not familiar enough with Scottish dancing to know the terms for dance steps—if that's what it is (and that's only a guess on my part).

My wife noticed a similarity between this tune and "The Book Report," a song from the musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." (I might post a link later.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wild Old Tune (The McCalmans)
From: Folkie Frank
Date: 02 Dec 17 - 01:34 PM

Jim, thank you so much for taking the time to transcribe these lyrics.

I think the 1st line of the 2nd verse is:
And ever as the piper plays, beneath the ?Sadie? doleful rays

I'm still not sure of that one word.