Origins: Bogie's Bonny Belle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: GUEST,Wayne Bean
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 12:55 PM

Re: Abby Sale's question about the second verse. She did some good guessing:

"Tae Ca (drive) his twa best horses

Tae cairt or harrie (harrow) or ploo

Or dae ony thin aboot fairmwork

As I righct weel can do"

The parenthetical stuff are definitions/transliterations. This version is pretty much in Northeastern dialect.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: DonMeixner
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 08:37 AM

Get Seamus Kennedy's CD with it on. He has kindly translated it into English for us who speak no Calebonics.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: GUEST,yum yum
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 07:49 AM

Sheila Stewart sings a version of 'Bogie's Bonny Belle' on her album 'From the heart of the tradition.' I have heard quite a few versions of this ballad but I must admit that this takes the top prize!---Oh!!! and by the way, I cant remember who it was who informed us lately about TOPIC RECORDS being on line but I was able to buy this album of Sheila Stewart (and get my FREE CD as well) thanks to who-ever you are.

Thats what I love about Mudcat, great information!!

Good-luck all

yum yum

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 02:12 AM

The words of the first verse causing confusion--- ---tae cairt or harry or pleugh---" "Cairt " is obvious, as is "pleugh"; the word "harry " means "harrow" ---the process of dragging a harrow across a seeded field in order to bury the grain. One of my favourite bothy ballads.

Subject: Lyr Add: BELLE'S BONNIE BOGIE (from Alison Younger
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 06:06 PM

I couldn't find my Gnus & Roses CD back in May 2000 (see above)because I'd lent it to a friend. I got it back last night, and discovered that my memory had indeed been faulty. Here's the full version of Belles's Bonnie Bogie as sung by Alison Younger

BELLE'S BONNIE BOGIE

As I gae'd in by Huntly toon
This mornin' for tae fare
I fell in wi' Bogie O'Cairnie
On his rare and hairy mare.

I am a bloomin' ploomon
I ken hoo tae ploo, the noo
Ye ken a mon hae got tae ploo
What a mon hae got tae ploo

Noo the fairmer had a dochter
Her name it were Belle
She had an awfu' big nose
And a powerfu' sense of smell

And when she gaed oot walking
Pickin' floors o'er the glen
She inhaled a' the daffodils
And sucked in some passin' men

I wish that I could marry Belle.
Ach weel, if I could choose.
I'd hold her by the legs
And we could hoover roond the hoose.

She breathed in half a forest
And a flock o' Hieland sheep
The shepherd had tae tak 'em oot
When Belle she fell asleep

And while the shepherd he were there
A-ca'in' for his dogie
He cam across a black and roond
Really massive bogie

It were the biggest in the world
There cannae be a doot
And a' the fairmers roond aboot
Cam' roond to roll it oot

There's airms and legs a stickin' oot
And soon a face appears
Twas the fairmer's Uncle Angus
Why, he'd not been seen for years

Belle's Bonnie Bogie
It outgrew the Stone of Scone
I own that Belle had blown
An Elgin Mairble of her own

There was a vairse upon the bogie
By William McGonnigal
The poem didnae scan
Which cam as nae surprise tae man, woman, chiel or dogie at all.

We rolled it roond and roond the toon
Till we found the pairfect spot
Most monuments are granite
But in Huntly toon it's not

And if ye gae by Huntly toon
Ye'll see it lyin' there
Bogie, bonnie Belle's bogie
Lyin' in the square

Sung by Alison Younger on the Mrs Ackroyd Band album "Gnus and Roses" DOG010

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 29 May 00 - 11:59 PM

To work his twa best horses, cairt or harry or pleugh   (John A. Brune, The Roving Songster, 1965.)  From George Murray of Aberdeen.

Peter Kennedy (Folksongs of Britain and Ireland) has a version from Davie Stewart; the same line, though spelt slightly differently.

In the UK, we aren't allowed to drive until we're 17; which is obviously just as well, since the fish population is no longer what it was...

Malcolm

Subject: Lyr Add: BOGIE'S BONNIE BELLE (Archie Fisher)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 29 May 00 - 08:39 PM

 

                       BOGIE'S BONNIE BELLE
                        (per Archie Fisher, on Archie Fisher, Xtra - LP, c1969)

As I gaed in by Huntley toon, yin morning for tae fee
I fell in wi' Bogie o' Cairnie and wi' him I did agree

Tae ca' his twa best horses, or cairt or [ferry] a ploo' ¹
(Tae work the twa best horses in either cairt or ploo') ²
(Tae drive his twa best horses, likewise his cairt and ploo') ³
Or dae onything aboot fairmwork I very well could do.

Now Bogie had a daughter, and her name was Isabelle
She was the flower o' the valley and the primrose o' the dell

And when she gaed oot walkin', she chose me for her guide
Down by the burn o' Cairnie, tae watch sma' fishes glide ⁴

The first three months being past and o'er, this lassie lost her bloom
An' the red fell frae her rosey cheeks and her eyes began to swoon

When nine long months were past and gane, she brought forth tae me a son
And I was quickly called for tae see what could be done

I said that I would marry her but no, that wudna do
For, "You're no' a match for ma bonnie Belle, an' she's no' a match for you"

Well now she's married tae a tinkler chiel, wha bides in Huntley toon
He mends pots and pans and paraffin lamps, an' he scours the country roon

Aye, an' maybe she's gotten a better lad; auld Bogie canna tell
So fareweel ye lads o' Huntlyside and Bogie's bonnie Belle
 
 

¹ That's just one or two words I don't get.  Sorry.  Maybe I got it & it means "ironwork" (sharpen, eg) a
   plough.  But I doubt it.
² Greig~Duncan, Vol 7, version "K"
³ Hall/Buchan The Scottish Folksinger, a collated version - no attribution
⁴ This reminds me of our dates when we first got driver's licences at age 16.  We'd often go off of an
  evening with our dates to watch the submarine races.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 29 May 00 - 10:06 AM

One of the first 2 or 3 songs I learned to sing with the guitar.

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: Art Thieme
Date: 28 May 00 - 09:29 PM

Carol,

A question ! I am making some assumptions/conclusions from your e-mail address. Are you the Carol McComb from the great 1960s era LP Kathy & Carol (Elektra?) that is still one of my favorite albums of all time? If so, welcome to Mudcat and your being here is really very nice to see.

Also: Please check out Lou Killen's version of this fine song for which you search. It's a beauty.

Art Thieme [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 28 May 00 - 09:01 PM

TerriM - that shows some deep insight. In german there is a saying: "The devil is a squirrel (i.e. he can get on the highest tree)".

Joerg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: GUEST,jayohjo
Date: 28 May 00 - 07:34 PM

one of my faves, as my mum always used to sing it - thats how i know it, but it now appears (backed up by her) that she learnt hers from davy as well. beeyootiful song though!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: TerriM
Date: 28 May 00 - 02:03 PM

gotta love Les!My personal favourite is 'Dachsunds with erections can't climb stairs'...sorry, thread creep.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 27 May 00 - 09:59 PM

One of the songs with MANY different lyrics. Does anybody know the lyrics of the version performed by Eddie&Finbar Furey in the 70's(?)? What GUEST,carol@... said at the very beginning also applies to me for that one.

Snuffy - "Gnus and Roses" is CHARMING...

Joerg

Subject: Lyr Add: BELLE'S BONNIE BOGIE (Les Barker)
From: Snuffy
Date: 27 May 00 - 04:21 PM

TerriM

Your mention of Belles Bonnie Bogie sent me looking for my Les Barker/Mrs Ackroyd Band CDs. I've spent all week looking but haven't been able to track down my "Gnus and Roses" CD. So here it is from memory (corrections gratefully received).

BELLE'S BONNIE BOGIE
(Les Barker)

As I gae'd oot by Huntly toon
One evenin' for tae fare
I fell in wi' Bogie O'Cairnie
On his rare and hairy mare.

I am a bloomin' ploomon
I ken hoo tae ploo, the noo
Ye ken a mon hae got tae ploo
What a mon hae got tae ploo

Noo the fairmer had a dochter
Her name it were Belle
She had an awfu' big nose
And a powerfu' sense of smell

I wish that I could marry Belle.
If I could have ma' choose.
I'd hold her by the legs
And we could hoover roond the hoose.

One day she went oot walking
And Belle she fell asleep
She sucked up a' the daffodils
And a herd o' passin' sheep

And when the shepherd he came there
A-callin' for his dogie
He came upon a black and roond
Really massive bogie

It was the biggest in the worrrld
There cannae be a doot
And a' the folks from roond aboot
Cam' roond to roll it oot

There's airms and legs a stickin' oot
And soon a face appears
Twas the fairmer's Uncle Angus
Why, he'd not been seen for years

Belle's Bonnie Bogie
It outgrew the Stone of Scone
I own that Belle had blown
An Elgin Mairble of her own

They rolled it roond and roond the toon
Till they found the pairfect spot
Most monuments are granite
But in Huntly toon it's not

So if ye gang tae Huntly toon
Ye'll see it lying there
Bogie, bonnie Belle's bogie
A-standin' in the square

^^ Sung by Alison Younger on the Mrs Ackroyd Band album "Gnus and Roses"
VRH

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: GUEST,Paul Snow
Date: 25 May 00 - 03:32 PM

I suspect that Archie Fisher learnt this song from Davy Stewart as I did.

Which words don't you understand?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: Pene Azul
Date: 24 May 00 - 10:52 PM

Here's a shortcut. It is here in the DT: BOGIE'S BONNIE BELLE (click).
PA

---

BOGIE'S BONNIE BELLE (DT Lyrics)

At market day in Huntley toon, an' it was there I did agree
Wi' Bogieside the farmer a twelvemonth for to fee
Tae drive his twa best horses, that's a task that I could do
Tae drive his twa best horses in the harrow and the ploo

Now Bogie had a dochter, her name was Isabelle
She was the lily o' the valley an' the primrose o' the dell
An' when she went oot walkin', she chose me for her guide
Doon by the burn at Cairnie, tae watch the fishes glide

And when three months was scarcely o'er, the lassie lost her
bloom
An' the red fell frae her bonnie cheeks an' her eyes began to
swoon
Noo, the neist nine months were past and gone, she brought tae me
a son
And I was quickly sent for tae see what could be done
I said that I would marry her, but oh that widna dae
For, "You're nae match for Bonnie Belle, an' she's nae match for
thee"
He sent me packin' doon the road, wi' nae penny o' my fee
Sae a' ye lads o' Huntley toon a lang fareweel tae ye.

But noo she's marrit tae a tinker lad, wha bides in Huntley toon
He mends pots and pans and paraffin lamps, an' scours the country
roon
Maybe she's gotten a better match - auld Bogie canna tell -
But it was me wha's ta'en the maidenheid o' Bogie's bonnie Belle

recorded by Ian Manuel on the Frosty Ploughshare
@farm @Scottish @courtship @bastard
filename[ BOGIEBEL
TUNE FILE: BOGIEBEL
CLICK TO PLAY
SOF

Popup Midi Player

---

Thaditional Ballad Index entry:

Bogie's Bonnie Belle

DESCRIPTION: Singer meets Bogie and goes to work for him; his daugher Isabel meets him by the river. She delivers a son, and Bogie sends for the singer, who promises to marry her. Bogie says the singer's not worthy of his daughter. Bogie's daughter marries a tinker
AUTHOR: Unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1906 (GreigDuncan7)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Singer, going to Huntley, meets Bogie and arranges to drive horses for him; his daugher Isabel chooses him for her guide, down by the river. Later, she delivers a son, and Bogie sends for the singer, who promises to marry her. Bogie says the singer's not worthy of his daughter, so (the singer takes his son away while) Bogie's daughter marries a tinker; the singer takes his leave (and boasts of having taken her maidenhead) (or he wishes her well)
KEYWORDS: hardheartedness courting seduction sex bragging pregnancy baby father lover
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (4 citations):
GreigDuncan7 1396, GreigDuncan8 Addenda, "Bogie's Bonnie Bell" (13 texts, 11 tunes)
Kennedy 340, "Bogie's Bonnie Belle" (1 text, 1 tune)
MacSeegTrav 81, "Bogie's Bonnie Belle" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, BOGIEBEL*
Roud #2155
RECORDINGS:
Davie Stewart, "Bogie's Bonny Belle" (on FSB01)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Adieu to Bogie Side" (lyrics)
cf. "The Plains of Waterloo" (tune, per GreigDuncan7)
cf. "Erin's Lovely Home" (tune, per GreigDuncan7)
NOTES [133 words]: According to Kennedy, a "literary" version of the song by John Riddel [indexed as "Adieu to Bogie Side" - RBW] was printed in Ford's Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland, 1900. - PJS
This is an instance of a difficult conundrum, which initially led me to lump the songs. There is good evidence that this "literary" version is a traditional song (Ford and Ord have very different versions, and Grieg found quite a few versions). And Ord's longish version has clear links to Kennedy's song. Links, but not really the same plot (e.g. the pregnancy vanishes). Still, I suspect there are versions which mix. Best to check the references to both songs.
I find myself wondering if Riddell didn't know both songs, and create his version (with its references to the muses, etc.) from scraps of both. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.5
File: DTbogieb

---

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography

The Ballad Index Copyright 2020 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: TerriM
Date: 24 May 00 - 07:26 PM

We once made a truly disgusting cocktail which we christened Belles Bonnie Bogie.....it was green and slimy. To our non-brit friends who may not know, a bogie is Brit for a booger.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From: Susan of DT
Date: 24 May 00 - 05:52 PM

Search for Bogie* in the big blue search box above. Note that bonnie is spelled in too many ways to be a good word to search on.

Subject: Bogie's Bonny Belle
From:
Date: 24 May 00 - 05:27 PM

Does anyone know Archie Fisher's lyrics to Bogie's Bonny Belle? I can understand about 90% of it, but the remaining sections baffle me. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has a better ear than me. Thanks!