Essential Robbie Burns

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Eric-o
Date: 11 Jan 01 - 02:07 AM

Thank you once again, everyone! I was sorta embarassed to post the question originally. Actually stirred up lots of interest/assistance. A very helpful and caring post from Mark of West Sussex - I remember a similar warning concerning a number of certain Irish songs when I started playing pubs years ago. Thanks Snuffy for pointing me to the database. I'm not too bright at the end of the day - it was right there to be had all along! zzzzzzzz Cheers! Eric-o

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 05:08 PM

Try Robert Burns Country www.robertburns.org/works/371

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Bradypus
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 05:05 PM

Jock - noy quite right about Strathclyde - Strathclyde is a Region, consisting of many districts includung (originally, but no longer) Kyle and Carrick).

Bradypus

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Bearheart
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 02:04 PM

Glad you asked, though I think most everyone else has submitted my favorites. Now though I have a bunch of websites etc to check out! Hope there will be more of the same...

Bekki

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Jock Morris
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 04:00 AM

'Kyle and Carrick' may be relatively new, but it's still been replaced not once but twice. Firstly by Strathclyde and now by (I think) South Ayrshire and West Ayrshire. Wish they'd stop messing about with the boundaries for political purposes and go back to the old boundaries which on the whole made more geographical sense.

Scott

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 07:32 PM

Type in "@scots AND Burns" in the Digitrad Lyrics search box and you'll get 147 songs written or collected by the man

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Mark. West Sussex. UK
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 06:43 PM

Careful Eric-o. Doing a Burns Night can be tricky. The Scots are just about the most compicated audience what with Highland/Lowland and Clan complications. Avoid political songs like "Ye Jacobites by name" and its converse "Cam ye oe'r frae France". You'll have both parties in your audience. I would avoid "Parcel o' Rogues" for the same reason. Tug at the heartstrings with old favourites like "Leezy Linday", "The Weavin's no for you", "Land o' the Leal", "Mingulay Boat Song", "Jock Stuart" and such. (Ok so we've bought in the likes of Lady Nairn and such there, but it is the songs they love. There is now a superb CD collection by great Scots artists of the complete Burns Collection. Check out Dick Gaughan's and the McCalman's Web sites if you need lyrics etc. Listen to Crobh Rua's version of "A man's a man.." before daring to sing it. Finally, you will be plied with endless drams from audience. Find a way of politely and discretely disposing of them. Do not refuse them or drink them. Either way you won't finish your set intact. Good Luck Hin!

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 06:28 PM

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Bradypus
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 05:54 PM

Apologies for getting 'The Craw Killed the Pussy' wrong - we were taught it at school to 'Green Grow the Rashes', and somehow the crossover link got stuck in my brain.

'Kyle and Carrick' is new. The old districts of Ayrshire were Kyle (where Alloway is), Carrick (to the south) and Cunningham (to the north, various spellings). There was an old rhyme which went either:

Kyle for a man(Burns)
Carrick for a coo (cow)
Cunningham for butter and cheese
And Galloway for 'oo (wool)

Or:

Carrick for a man (Robert Bruce was Earl of Carrick)
Kyle for a coo
Cunningham for butter and cheese
and Galloway for 'oo

As I was taught it in Carrick, we prefered the second version!

Bradypus

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: john c
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 05:28 PM

For me, Burns collected a lot of great songs - maybe wrote a couple more - wrote miles and miles of very ho-hum poetry (which I had to learn at school) - and gave the world Tam o´Shanter, a work of pure, unadulterated genius!
Hoots,
J.

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 04:18 PM

Burns Fact:

Burns was born on January 25th, 1759 in Alloway. ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 03:56 PM

Burns Fact:

On the day Burns was buried, 25th of July 1796, his wife Jean was giving birth to the last of his children, Maxwell Burns. ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Peg
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 02:08 PM

little john;

i was told Burns died at age 27 (complicatiosn from pneumonia as a result of taking the "ocean cure")...so did he indeed reach his 28th birthday?

peg

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Turtle
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 02:05 PM

What about Rattlin' Roarin' Willie for a more lively Burns song? That's always been one of my favorites.

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 11:26 AM

Here's a braw pic o Tam O'Shanter
http://www.worldburnsclub.com/images/c_mcqueen/tamo.jpg

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 11:15 AM

It is thought that Burns may have written this as a celebration of his 28th birthday. ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 11:05 AM

Ye're richt Jock. Ah think mibbe Rab wis writin aboot hisel an didnae want tae brag.Robin wis jist tae fool awbody.
Gled ye can understaun aw mah clishmaclaver Freckle face. ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 07:06 AM

John in Brisbane put together this Scottish Glossary (http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=19486#207720), which, if memory serves me correctly, is larger than the link above provided by LJC because it includes all those words and more. I have to confess, LJC, I have to use it when I read your posts and when I hear the words to a Scottish song. But they don't have the word, ferniticles! (See, I remembered it, LJC.)

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Jock Morris
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 04:37 AM

LJC,

I suspect that 'Kyle' refers to the old district name of 'Kyle and Carrick', which Alloway is in. I lived in Alloway from 18 months old to 21 years and the bard was always referred to as Robert or Rabbie, never Robin.

Haven't spotted Aye Fond Kiss mentioned in the thread yet; one of my favourites.

Scott

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Eric-o
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 02:21 AM

Thank you Murray! & thank you all! I'm off to do more research...

Eric-o

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Murray on Saltspring
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 01:39 AM

Please do "The Star o' Rabbie Burns", which sums up his career and later fame very well. I've sung this myself instead of giving the "Immortal Memory" speech, and it does the job. ALSO please if you do [or anybody does] "Auld Lang Syne", PULEASE pronounce the thing properly--that last word sounds exactly the same as the trig function (sine), not like the German "sein". Good luck..

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Eric-o
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 01:35 AM

I've been away since I very tentatively posted for help on essential Rabbie Burns. What a wonderful surprize to return to all of this information! This is exactly what I'd hoped for. Thanks too, for setting me straight on the handle. Don't want to look too foolish.

Guess I'm on the right track, as I know about ¼ of those suggested to date. The biggest challenge of course is remembering the airs and approximating the brogue. Listening to Dougie MacLean renditions makes the task seem more possible, thank goodness.

Enough from me - but thank you nice people!!

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Matt_R
Date: 07 Jan 01 - 11:05 PM

Akkk I done fergot "Tibbie Fowler". When I sing it, no one has any idea what I'm saying!

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Rhona
Date: 07 Jan 01 - 10:49 PM

Forget the sappy 'Ae Fond Kiss' type songs and play some lively ones. A good one would be 'O wilt thou go wi' me sweet Tibbie Dunbar' or 'The Waukrife Minnie'. There's many other usually ignored songs that Rab wrote which are funny, lively and good to play a fiddle to. Do some research. Your audience will prefer the fun ones over the slow, despairing ones.

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 07 Jan 01 - 03:44 PM

Guid ane Chantey. ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 07 Jan 01 - 03:43 PM

This is caed rantin, rovin Robin. Ye'll notice that Robin wis born in Kyle and Rab wis born in Alloway. The tune o this is Dainty Davie. Also this was not published by Burns though that disnae mean he never wrote it. ljc

Subject: Lyr Add: THERE WAS A LAD (Robert Burns)
From: Megan L
Date: 07 Jan 01 - 02:16 PM

Shame on you LJC I can't do clicky things so had to copy it from digitrad

THERE WAS A LAD
(Robert Burns)

There was a lad was born in Kyle,
But whatna day o' whatna style,
I doubt it's hardly worth the while
To be sae nice wi' Robin.

Robin was a rovin' boy,
Rantin' rovin', rantin' rovin';
Robin was a rovin' boy,
Rantin' rovin' Robin.

Our monarch's hindmost year but ane
Was five-and-twenty days begun,
'Twas then a blast o' Janwar' Win'
Blew hansel in on Robin.

The Gossip keekit in his loof,
Quo' scho wha lives will see the proof,
This waly boy will be nae coof,
I think we'll ca' him Robin.

He'll hae misfortunes great and sma',
But ay a heart aboon them a';
He'll be a credit till us a',
We'll a' be proud o' Robin.

But sure as three times three mak nine,
I see by ilka score and line,
This chap will dearly like our kin',
So leeze me on thee, Robin.

"Guid faith," quo' scho, "I doubt you Stir,
Ye gar the lasses lie aspar;
But twenty fauts ye may hae waur-
So blessins on thee, Robin."

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 07 Jan 01 - 12:30 PM

A story about Burns:

He had a little-known and short-lived marriage to a woman named Nera. She played fiddle, but was so scratchy and terrible at it, every time she practiced, it drove him to go out roaming the country. So.......

"As Nera fiddled, Burns roamed."

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Peg
Date: 07 Jan 01 - 12:09 AM

Rabbie wrote "Parcel of Rogues"? I didn't know that! another great song.

Kendall, I am drooling!!!

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Matt_R
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 08:18 PM

--Winter O' Life
--My Jean (Of A' The Airts Tha Blaw)
--Wha Will I Dae Gin My Hoggie Die?
--My Heart's In The Hielands

I can't remember the names of those other good ones I like. Feeling a bit despondent right now.

Oh yeah, and that one that goes "Up your ass wi' a dick o' brass".

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 07:52 PM

Did Rabbie write that? Ah dinnae think sae!! ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Bradypus
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 06:54 PM

If you want something a bit humorous, try 'The Craw killed the Pussy-O'

Bradypus

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 06:51 PM

here's ane ah forgot a posted a while ago.

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?ThreadID=28082

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:58 PM

Ach! ah'm gettin richt intae this noo.Dae ye mind whit ah said aboot hearin this spoken word,weel here are ah few real audio samples o Burns.

http://www.innotts.co.uk/~asperges/burnsframe.html

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:54 PM

As on anither thread, try the ither tune for "Auld Lang Syne" as sung by "The Cast", Rod Paterson and others. My favourite has to be "Ae Fond Kiss"

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:40 PM

Somebody had to make them up.How about Dickens and Shakespeare?They were at it all the time.With the explosion of the I.T. industry new words are coined all the time. ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:28 PM

Ooh, yes, I'll vote for "Parcel of Rogues" -- whadda song!

Sarah

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:23 PM

Thank you..it has been said that he made up words of his own..what say you?

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: pastorpest
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:22 PM

I would add "Parcel of Rogues" to the list of songs. Also I am with little john cameron on Burns' name. Ian McIntyre's carefully rsearched biography of Burns "Dirt and Diety" begins with these wrods: "The entry in the Ayr parish register is the briefest: `Robert Burns, lawful son to William Burns, in Alloway, and Agnes Brown, his spouse, was born January 25, 1759; bapd. 26, by William Dalrymple. Witnesses: John Tennant and Jas. Young.'" I have never heard Burns referred to as "Robin" either.

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:20 PM

Jings[another euphemism] here it is already.this should keep you occupied for years.

http://www.backhaul.net/burns/burns.htm
ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:13 PM

Kendall.somewhere on the net is a Burns site that has a glossary of words in the poems and songs of Burns.I will see if i can find it again,might take me a while again. ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 05:09 PM

I have in my collection the works of Robert Burns in four volumes, with an account of his life. Illustrated, dated 1820 London. I find it hard reading with the accent and all. (Dont drool on you keyboard)

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Amergin
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 04:38 PM

You sang about your bonnie wee thing DaveO?

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 04:29 PM

I wooed and won my Beatiful Wife, singing "Bonnie Wee Thing" to her! You're not likely to find a more romantic Burns song--or anybody's song!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: R!
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 04:13 PM

Mary Morrison, Ay Waukin O, The De'il's Awa' Wi' The Exciseman, Up Wi' The Carls O' Dysart, Logan Water. The list goes on.

Rowana

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 04:13 PM

Here is a really good site aboot Burns.It covers a lot of ground concerning his life and works including how to arrange a Burns Supper. ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 04:08 PM

On second thought, chanteyranger, I remember (short-term memory GONE!!!) that someone asked for all the lyrics on a thread at the end of Dec -- 30 or 31, really shaving it -- and the entire lyrics are posted there. Thread name was "Auld Langsyne," I think. Caught my pedantic attention.

Sarah

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: little john cameron
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:50 PM

Same tae ye Nynia.Ah cannae say much wi confidence nooadays,even masel. ljc

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:41 PM

chanteyranger,

It's not in the DT?

Gawd...

Sarah

Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
From: Nynia
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 03:34 PM

Hi LJC, Happy New Year to you. Can you say with any confidence what he actually wrote and what he colleced and modified for his own ends?


Nynia


:-)

-)

)