Lyr ADD: The Witches Song (Matt McGinn)

Subject: Lyr Req: The Witches Song (Matt McGinn)
From: nigelgatherer
Date: 09 Aug 19 - 05:16 PM

I'm having some difficult deciphering all the words to Matt McGinn's "The Witches' Song" and I would appreciate some help. You can listen to the song on YouTube (click here).

Hie, tattie, tattie, tattie,
Hie come tattie tae;
Hie, tattie, tatie, tattie,
Hie come tattie tae.

If ye wander near the [burrs],
On the witches you may chance,
In the middle of the night they’re there
For necromantic dance. (Hie, tattie etc)

The weather must be drear,
The hour must be drab,
The [               ] on the fire
(--------) make his slab. (Hie, tattie etc)

When the lizard take the light
Then unleash the dog;
Fling them in tae bile wi’
The carcass o’ the (frog) (Hie, tattie etc)

Black spirits an’ white,
Red spirits an’ grey,
Mingle, mingle, mingle, mingle,
(-----------------------) (Hie, tattie etc)

Now the broth is brew’d
Now the dance is done,
We will fill our stomachs
For the feast is just begun. (Hie, tattie etc)

Hie, tattie, tattie, tattie,
Hie come tattie tae;
Hie, tattie, tatie, tattie,
Hie come tattie tae;

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WITCHES' SONG (Matt McGinn)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 09 Aug 19 - 05:40 PM

Nigel - here's my transcription. The only thing I'm not sure is the We will make our thicken slab - is that a Scots delicacy?

Mick

---

THE WITCHES' SONG
(Matt McGinn)


  Chorus:
  Hie, tattie, tattie, tattie,
  Hie come tattie tae;
  Hie, tattie, tatie, tattie,
  Hie come tattie tae.

If ye wander near the furze
On the witches you may chance,
In the middle o' the night they’re there
For necromantic dance.

The weather must be drear,
The hour must be drab.
The caudron's on the fire,
We will make our thicken slab.

Frae the lizard take the leg;
Then unleash the dog;
Fling them in tae bile wi’
The carcass o’ the frog.

Black spirits an’ white,
Red spirits an’ grey,
Mingle, mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle may.

Now the broth is brew’d
Now the dance is done,
We will fill our stomachs
For the feast is just begun.

  Chorus ad lib at end



Source: youtube link as above: Matt McGinn - The Witches' Song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Witches Song (Matt McGinn)
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 09 Aug 19 - 05:57 PM

Hi Nigel, Mostly agree with Mick, but
"If you wander near the forest" V1
"we will make her thick an slob"?? V3

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Witches Song (Matt McGinn)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 09 Aug 19 - 07:32 PM

Could well be forest akenaton. The pronunciation is forrress, which I'd took to be furze, but forest make more sense I think.


The other line I still can't make any sense of, but it could be

We will make 'er thick and slab

The Dictionary of the Scots Language has an entry for verb slab, meaning To slaver, esp. when at one's food, to eat or drink in a messy, untidy way, to slobber.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Witches Song (Matt McGinn)
From: nigelgatherer
Date: 10 Aug 19 - 07:55 AM

Thank you, Mick and ake. I'm much more confident about the words now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Witches Song (Matt McGinn)
From: nigelgatherer
Date: 12 Aug 19 - 06:35 PM

I'm doing a little music workshop in the East Lothian village of Spott, the scene of the last executions of witches in Scotland, in 1705, which is why I wished to use Matt McGinn's song. Anybody wishing to see my setting of "The Witches Song" can access it from this link (it's on page 2).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Witches Song (Matt McGinn)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 14 Aug 19 - 02:28 PM

Will ask my Matt McGinn guru if he knows it! Never heard it myself. It would be a good one for the next annual Matt tribute night in Linlithgow next March! Sure we have plenty of potential witches there!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Witches Song (Matt McGinn)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Aug 19 - 02:05 PM

My guru tells me this song was performed at the last Matt McGinn night in Linlithgow (which, unfortunately, I missed): sung and acted by the delightful primary schools choir, The Wee Linties. Hoping he will send me the lyrics they had, then can compare with what you've got here: will let you know of any significant differences.