Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)

Subject: Ever Since day my dug ate Aunty Bella
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 12 May 00 - 09:54 AM

Can anyone help me with the words for this song... probably fairly recent ( last 30 yrs or so)...probably Scottish origin, maybe Adam McNaughtan?

It's about a person who picks up a stray dog outside Calderpark Zoo in glasgow and takes it home not realising it's a lion..

I can't find it and it's driving me nuts...

ANy help would be appreciated

Thanks...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ever Since day my dug ate Aunty Bell
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 May 00 - 11:35 AM

The only reference I can find anywhere is to a song called Auntie Bella, recorded by  Gaberlunzie; "Live" (CD: CDLOC1064/ Cassette:ZCLOC1064).  They credit it to "Copland" (presumably not Aaron!); I've never heard it, so I've no idea if it's the right one, but I suppose it might be somewhere to start...

Malcolm

Subject: Lyr Add: AUNTIE BELLA
From: MMario
Date: 22 May 00 - 09:35 AM

found it!!

AUNTIE BELLA
============

Ever since the day ma dug ate Auntie Bella
I've been wondering just what kind of dug I've got,
For it grew up awfy big and tawny yella,
Wi a great big hairy collar round its throat.
It was just a little pup the night I picked it up;
It was wandering in the dark near a place called Calder Park -
And when people see me coming they shout "Lion!"
But I've never told a lie in all ma life.

Ever since the day ma dug ate Auntie Bella,
Things have happened in a way you won't believe.
Can A clap your dug said one wee friendly fellow;
Noo he runs aboot wi naething up his sleeve.
And when I'm signin on the Broo there's niver any queue
The man says don't come doon, we'll send yer money roon...
And when people see me coming they shout "Lion!"
But I've never told a lie in all ma life.

Ever since ma dug had Auntie for its dinner
I've been taking money off these racing mugs;
Down at Shawfield track my Fido's aye the winner,
But the trouble is, they're running short o dugs.
And when the butcher for a bet gave a sheep heid tae ma pet,
He gave a strangled yell when it chewed his heid as well -
And when people see me coming they shout "Lion!",
But I've never told a lie in all ma life.

Now I've been to France and Spain and Portobello
I've been moved on by the polis many times;
And when it rains I carry my umbrello,
But I only mention that because it rhymes.
So if you think I'm telling lies, you're in for a surprise,
If you hear a terrible roar, there's nae use bolting for the door
Or climbing on a chair, jist git doon and say your prayers -
For I've never told a lie in all my life.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ever Since day my dug ate Aunty Bell
From: Mrrzy
Date: 22 May 00 - 04:45 PM

I have to tell you a true story that happened to a Peace Corps volunteer in upcountry Ivory Coast, as it was called back then. He bought a puppy from some guy and finally took it to the vet because it kept clawing people. He was looking for advice on declawing versus training and the vet said Oh, where did you get the lion cub? I was about 8 when this happened but I know the volunteers and the lion was given to a zoo. Not a rural legend, I promise!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LION SONG / AUNTIE BELLA
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 12:49 AM

From a site belonging to the Glasgow Zoo:

THE LION SONG
Tune - The Far Cullins .... From the Singing of John Eaglesham

Since the day my dug ate Auntie Bella,
I've been wondering what kind of dug I've got.
For he's grown up big an' tawny yella
Wi' a great big hairy ruffle roond his throat.
He wis just a small wee pup the night I picked him up.
He was cowering in the dark just doon frae Calder Park.
An' whenever people see me they shout, "Lion!"
An' ah never telt a lie in all my life.

Since the day my dug ate Auntie Bella,
Things have been happenin' in a wey you'd no believe.
"Can a clap your dug?" says wan wee freenly fella.
Noo he walks aroon' wi' nuthin up his sleeve.
When ah gang doon tae the broo, there isna any queue.
The clerk says, "Don't come doon. We'll send your money roon'."
An' when ever people see me they shout, "Lion!"
An ah never telt a lie in all my life.

Since the day my dug ate Auntie Bella,
I've been taking money aff the racin' mob.
On the greyhound track, my Fido's aye a winner.
The trouble is they're runnin' oot o' dogs.
A butcher fur a bet fed a sheepshead tae ma pet.
You should've heard him yell when he ate his head as well.
An' when people see me they shout "Lion!"
An a never telt a lie in all ma life.

On the day ma auntie B got gozzled,
The neebours all say that I'm to blame.
But I just forgot that Fido wisnae muzzled
When I assured ma auntie it was tame.
So she let it lick her haun'; next minnit, she wis gone.
But although I miss her so, she's left me all her dough.
An' whenever people see me they shout "Lion!"
A've never telt a lie in a' ma life.

Here's another version with a different title, a different 4th verse, and several other small differences - from the Arizona Irish Music Society:

AUNTIE BELLA

Ever since the day ma dug ate Auntie Bella,
I've been wondering just what kind of dug I've got,
For it grew up awfy big and tawny yella,
Wi a great big hairy collar round its throat.
It was just a little pup the night I picked it up;
It was wandering in the dark near a place called Calder Park -
And when people see me coming they shout "Lion!"
But I've never told a lie in all ma life.

Ever since the day ma dug ate Auntie Bella,
Things have happened in a way you won't believe.
"Can A clap your dug?" said one wee friendly fellow;
Noo he runs aboot wi naething up his sleeve.
And when I'm signin on the Broo, there's niver any queue.
The man says, "Don't come doon; we'll send yer money roon."
And when people see me coming, they shout "Lion!"
But I've never told a lie in all ma life.

Ever since ma dug had Auntie for its dinner,
I've been taking money off these racing mugs;
Down at Shawfield track my Fido's aye the winner,
But the trouble is, they're running short o dugs.
And when the butcher for a bet gave a sheep heid tae ma pet,
He gave a strangled yell when it chewed his heid as well -
And when people see me coming they shout "Lion!",
But I've never told a lie in all ma life.

Now, I've been to France and Spain and Portobello.
I've been moved on by the polis many times;
And when it rains, I carry my umbrello,
But I only mention that because it rhymes.
So if you think I'm telling lies, you're in for a surprise.
If you hear a terrible roar, there's nae use bolting for the door,
Or climbing on a chair; jist git doon and say your prayers -
For I've never told a lie in all my life.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Sep 03 - 02:00 PM

A message from George Seto in another thread attributes "Auntie Bella" to actor James Copland. do we have verification of that?
Jim's post says the tune is "The Far Cullins." Closest I can come to that in Road to the Isles, which sings of "The Far Coolins." Is THAT the tune? As far as I can tell, it must be - but it doesn't scan to the lyrics very well unless you're quite creative in matching words to dots.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 13 Sep 03 - 09:16 PM

Ewan McVicar (sometime 'Catter) was my source for attributing the song to James Copland. (or possibly Copeland).

The tune is not "Road to the Isles", but has similarities.
When I get time, I'll do a midi to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 13 Sep 03 - 09:23 PM

Here are threads where Ewan gave out some info on this great song:

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=50063#758594

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=22980#252748

Too late at night to be doing blickies..


Cheers


Steven

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 07:44 PM

an illustration

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 09:21 AM

Very apt, Jack.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)
From: Cuilionn
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 07:03 AM

This song was also recorded by Cilla Fisher on one of the early "Singing Kettle" recordings. We've had it on cassette for at least 15 years and still get a big kick out of it!

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 08:31 AM

I think the tune owes as much to "Galway Bay" as "The Road o the Isles" - it's semi-recited so it doesn't come across very precisely.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 05:32 PM

I've heard MC Fat sing this in Whitby Folk Week. Jim... where are you?

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)
From: GUEST,EKanne
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 05:45 AM

Don't know the Gaberlunzie version, but I'm very familiar with John Eaglesham's version and it is definitely sung, not semi-recited, to the tune of 'The Road to the Isles'. And John, who is meticulous about attribution, always credits it to the late Jimmy Copland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Auntie Bella (from Gaberlunzie)
From: GUEST,MC Fat (at work)
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 06:06 AM

It is indeed in my repertoire Kitty with one small alteration as most people wouldn't know that Glasgow's Zoo was called Calder Park (i use the term was because it isn't there any more) I substitute Woburn or Windsor. It was written by Jimmy Copeland. I'm still in Sheffield Kitty