|
Subject: Lyr Add: FAREWELL TO WHISKEY (Boys of the Lough) From: Jon Whitney Date: 01 Jul 97 - 04:49 PM On an early self-titled Boys of the Lough album from 1974, there's a song called FAREWELL TO WHISKEY. I'm usually pretty good at picking out lyrics, but there are a few places I just can't understand in this one. I've put down what I did get. Can anyone help me fill in the missing places where I put ????. Also, does anyone know where I can get a clean copy (LP or cassette, I don't think its on CD) of the album? I consider it one of the Boy's best.
Oh, Johnny, my man, do ye no think o' risin'
The bairnies at hame, they are ???? and greetin'
Wha's that at the door, that is speakin' sae kindly
O Johnny, my man, do ye no mind the courtin'?
Oh, weel dae I mind O these times that ye speak o'
Then it's Johnny arose, and he bangs the door open, |
|
Subject: RE: Farewell to Whiskey From: Bill D Date: 01 Jul 97 - 08:09 PM It's in the database under the name of "JOHNNY MY MAN"....a search on the phrase 'fare thee well, whiskey' found it....since titles are slippery, it is often best to look for some word or phrase you know MUST be in the song! Song title converted to link. --JoeClone, 19-Mar-02. |
|
Subject: RE: Farewell to Whiskey From: Karen P. Date: 02 Jul 97 - 01:55 AM You can find Dick Gaughan's version on his website at: http://www.dickalba.demon.co.uk/songs/texts/whisky.htm an excellent site! |
|
Subject: RE: Farewell to Whiskey From: Jon Whitney Date: 02 Jul 97 - 07:28 PM Thanks, that really helped. |
|
Subject: Lyr Add: FAREWELL TO WHISKEY From: GUEST,Eric Patterson Date: 10 Mar 05 - 03:56 AM I also really like Farewell to Whiskey, but like you there were parts of the brogue I couldn't penetrate. Luckily I was able to consult with a visiting Scot & he was able to fill in with far more educated guesses than you or I could make. Here's how he heard it, with a few explanatory notes from me. Enjoy. Oh, Johnny, my man, dae ye no think o' risin' For the day is weel spent and the night's comin' on The siller's a' deeved, and the gillstoop is empty (The silver's all used up & the larder is empty) O rise up my Johnny and come awa' hame . The bairnies at hame, they are roarin' and greetin' (crying & whining) Nae meal in the barrow, to fill their wee waims (bellies) While you sit here drinkin', you leave us lamentin' O rise up my Johnny, and come awa' hame. Wha's that at the door, that is speakin' sae kindly Tis the voice of my wee wifie, Maggie by name, Come in, my dear lassie, and sit doon beside me. O rise up my Johnny, and come awa' hame. O Johnny, my man, do ye no mind the courtin'? Nae ale-hoose or tavern e'er ran thru our minds We spent lang days 'mang (amidst) the sweet scented roses, And ne'er gie a thought upon gon' awa' hame. Oh, weel dae I mind O these times that ye speak o' But these days they are gone and will ne'er come again But as for the present, we will try for to mend it So gie's your hand, Maggie, and I'll awa' hame. Then it's Johnny arose, and he's banged the door open, Saying cursed be the tavern, that e'er let me in And cursed be the whiskey, that made me aye thirsty, And fare thee well whiskey, for I'm awa' hame. |
|
Subject: RE: Farewell to Whiskey From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 10 Mar 05 - 12:24 PM The midi link at the head of the page is to Niel Gow's tune, which has nothing whatever to do with the mis-named song in this rather old thread. Note that the word is generally spelled "whisky" in Scotland. There are two examples of Johnny my Man in the DT; both are complete enough. See earlier link for JOHNNY MY MAN, taken from a Jean Redpath record (prior source not named). The other, with the confusing title FAREWEILL TAE WHISKY, was copied from Dick Gaughan's website (also mentioned above), I hope with his permission. I expect that the odd spelling of the first word will be why you didn't know it was there! |
|
Subject: RE: Farewell to Whiskey From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser) Date: 11 Mar 05 - 06:25 AM Funny, I just got the first Boys of the Lough record out yesterday and played it again for the first time in years. I'd forgotten how good it was and I've had it for over 30 years. If you can find a copy, grab it. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Farewell to Whiskey From: Zhenya Date: 14 Mar 05 - 05:03 PM I'm familiar with the Boys of the Lough version, but I'm trying to find a full set of lyrics to another version I heard at a music festival some years ago. It started out like this, as far as I can recall: I went to the alehouse to look for my Jimmy The day it is done and the night's coming on You're sitting there drinking which leaves me lamenting So come awa' Jimmy and come awa' hame Does anyone have any more lyrics, or know of any recordings of this version? Zhenya |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Farewell to Whiskey From: Susanne (skw) Date: 14 Mar 05 - 06:04 PM I've never come across a version where the guy was called Jimmy (nor anything but Johnny). |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Farewell to Whiskey From: SINSULL Date: 14 Mar 05 - 11:28 PM Nicely done by Hissyfit on their latest CD. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Farewell to Whiskey From: GUEST Date: 17 Jul 08 - 04:36 AM Superb version by Barbara Dickson on her 'Parcel of Rogues' album. She's been singing this since the late 60s. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Farewell to Whiskey From: Jim Carroll Date: 17 Jul 08 - 09:10 AM On the other hand you could try the superb traditional version by Jessie Murray on The 1951 Edinburgh People's Festival Ceilidh CD (entitle Thew Ale Hoose) from the Alan Lomax collection on Rounder - beats them all by a mile. Jim Carroll |
|
Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNIE, MY MAN / FAREWELL TO WHISKY From: Jim Dixon Date: 20 Jul 08 - 11:25 PM This version is from Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland by Robert Ford, 1901, page 254. Note that it has a few more verses than the other versions posted here. JOHNNIE, MY MAN. "O, JOHNNIE, my man, do ye no think on risin'? The day is far spent and the nicht's comin' on; Ye're siller's near dune, and the stoup's toom before ye; O, rise up, my Johnnie, and come awa' hame." "O, wha is it that I hear speaking sae kindly? I think it's the voice o' my ain wifie Jean; Come in by, my dearie, and sit down beside me, It's time enough yet to be gaun awa' hame." "O, Johnnie, my man, when we first fell a-courting, We had naething but love then to trouble our mind; We spent a' our time 'mang the sweet scented roses, And I ne'er thocht it lang then to gang awa' hame." "I remember richt weel, Jean, the time that ye speak o', And weel I remember the sweet flowery glen; But thae days are a' past, and will never return, love, Sae sit down beside me, nor think o' gaun hame." "O, Johnnie, my man, our bairns are a' greetin', Nae meal in the barrel to fill their wee wames; While sittin' here drinking, ye leave me lamentin'; O, rise up, my Johnnie, and come awa' hame." Then Johnnie he rase, and he bang'd the door open, Saying, "Curs'd be the tavern that ere let me in; And curs'd be the whisky that's made me sae frisky; O fare-ye-weel whisky, for I'll awa' hame. "And Jeannie, my dear, your advice will be taken, I'll leave aff the auld deeds and follow thee hame; Live sober and wisely, and aye be respected; Nae mair in the ale-house I'll sit, but at hame." Noo Johnnie gaes out ilka fine summer even, Wi' his wife and his bairns fu' trig and fu' bein, Though a wee while sin' syne, in rags they were rinnin', While Johnnie sat fou' in the ale-house at e'en. Contented and crouse he sits by his ain fireside, And Jeannie, a happier wife there is nane; Nae mair to the tavern at nicht does he wander, But's happy wi' Jean and his bairnies at hame. "Forty and more years ago, this was a common street song in various parts of Scotland, and found ready sale always in penny-sheet form, chiefly among those who required most its pointed moral lesson." |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Farewell to Whiskey From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 21 Jul 08 - 12:30 AM Volume II, 1901, presumably. Another book that Google, in its wisdom, makes freely available to users in the USA while denying access to those in the country in which it was written and published more than a century ago. Never mind; we can still buy copies over here with money (usually the revised edition of 1904, in which this song is on pp 327-8); at least until the American economic crisis collapses Europe's economies as well. For broadside editions, see Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads: Johnnie My Man |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Farewell to Whiskey From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 21 Jul 08 - 12:37 AM In my eagerness to moan about cultural and economic imperialism, I neglected to test the Bodleian link. I had inadvertently edited out a vital '?' from the string. Let's get it right this time. Johnnie My Man |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Farewell to Whiskey From: Barry Finn Date: 21 Jul 08 - 03:32 AM Norman Kennedy recorded this on his "Ballads & Songs of Scotland" sung by Norman Kennedy on Folk-Legacy 1968. I first heard this sung by Norman in the 70's along with quite a few other songs that I also proceeded to learn from his singing. In his sleeve notes (he calls it "Johnny, My Man, Dae Ye Nae Think O' Rising") he says; "This is a song which owes it's considerable popularity to circulation as a broadside. Ford notesit's popularity a hundred yrs ago & that the customers for the penny sheets on which it was printed were "chiefly among those who required most it's pointed moral lesson". Ord prints a version in his Bothy Ballads, as does Gavin Greig in Folk-Song Of The North-East. Norman has his version from Lizzy Higgins, daughter of the famous Jeannie Robertson, who is a fine ballad singer in her own right. Johnny, My Man, Dae Ye Nae Think O' Rising Johnny, My Man, Dae Ye Nae Think O' Rising? The day is far spent an' the night's comin' on Your siller's a' done an' your stoup's teem afore ye Rise up my man Johnny an' come awa' hame "Who is that I hear speakin' sae kindly? I ken it's the voice o' my ain wifie Jean Come in by me dearie, an' sit doon aside me There's room in this tavern for mair for by's me" "Johnny, my man, our bairns is a' greetin' Nae meal in the barrel tae fill their wee wains While ye sit here drinkin', ye leave me lamentin Rise up, my man Johnny, an' come awa' hame" "Dae ye nae remeber the 1st days we courted? On a bed o' priroses we baithdid set doon A' pickin' the flowers in each other's company Ye ne'er thocht it lang, then, nor sought tae gae hame" "Weel dae I mind on the days that ye mention But those times they are past an' they'll ne'er come again Just think on the present, an' try tae amend it Rise up my man, Johnny, an' come awa' hame" Johnny rase up & he flung the door open "My curse on the tavern that 1st let me in My curse on the whiskey that mak's me aye frisky Sae fare thee wee', whiskey, an' I'm awa' hame. great song Barry |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Farewell to Whiskey / Johnnie My Man From: GUEST,Rory Date: 17 Mar 22 - 02:05 AM "Johnnie My Man" From the Bodleian Library Broadside Collection, Firth b.25(299), c1850. Printer: John Gilbert (Newcastle), Stewart (Carlisle) O Jonnie, my man, do you no think on rising, For the day is far spent and the night's coming on Your siller's a' done, and the stoups toom before ye So rise up, my Johnnie, and come awa' hame. Do you no think on your bairns, they're at hame greeting Nae meal in the barrel to fill up their wee wames, And you'll sit here drinking, and us leave lamenting, O rise up, my Johnnie, end come awa' hame. O wha's at the door I hear speaking sae kind, It's the voice of my wife, called Jenny by name, O come in beside me and taste a wee drappie, Then I'll rise up contented and gang awa' hame. Do ye no mind the time when we first fell acquainted, Nae drink hurt our heads, nor in hunger our wames. We roved all the night amang sweet scented roses And ne'er took a thought to gaun away hame. O weel do I mind o' the time that ye speak o' But those days are awa' and shall nae come again; O think on the present time — try for to mend it,— So rise up, my Johnnie, and come awa' hame. Now Jenny, my dear, your advice shall be taken I'll leave off the auld deeds and follow thee hame; I'll live sober and wisely, and I'll be respected, — Nae mair to the ale-house to make it my hame. Now Johnnie he rose up and the doors he clashed open, O wae to your tavern that ever I came! Then fare-ye-weel whisky that makes me ay frisky And fare-ye-weel bauchie, so I'll gaun awa hame. Noo Johnnie can gae out on a fine simmer even' Wi wife an' bairns, fu' trig, an' fu' braw, An 'a wee while before that, in rags they were rinnin', While Johnnie sat drinkin' in the ale house at een. Temperance songs such as this one, printed around 1850, were popular in Scotland in the 1840s - 1870s , where inebriation was seen not only as an occupational danger, but also an insidious destroyer of men and their families. The Scottish Temperance Movement began in 1929 by John Dunlop and became well established by the 1830s with the formation of more temperance societies. |
|
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Farewell to Whiskey / Johnnie My Man From: GUEST,Rory Date: 17 Mar 22 - 02:07 AM Correction The Scottish Temperance Movement began in 1829 by John Dunlop. |
| Share Thread: |
