REQ:Rattlin' Roarin' Willy

Subject: REQ:Rattlin' Roarin' Willy
From: Benjamin Bodhra/nai/
Date: 19 Jan 98 - 09:59 PM

Hi all,

Was listening to my highly illegal, many copies from the original, "don't know the name" Dubliners tape after a long break and heard a song that started:

Oh rattlin' roarin' Willy Oh he's a tailor fair Oh for to sell his fiddle

At which point the combined low quality of tape and stereo system made it impossible to decipher anymore. I haven't been able to find the song on any other Dubliners recordings here in Adelaide, which is hardly surprising. Nor have I been able to find it on the Net.

Anyone out there with a copy of the words, or an idea of what album I am listening to (I presume it's a best of, it has some live tracks on it) and where I might get a copy of it in good old South Australia.

le buiochas

benjamin

Subject: RE: REQ:Rattlin' Roarin' Willy
From: Bruce O.
Date: 19 Jan 98 - 10:36 PM

By Robert Burns to an old tune of the same title. In any Burns'collection of songs (Dick's and Kinsley's have the tune), and 'Scots Musical Museum', #194. John Glen, 'Early Scottish Melodies', p. 123, notes tune is in Blaikie MS and Leyden MSS of the late 17th century. Tune printed in Oswald's 'Caledonian Pocket Companion', bk. 7, p. 9, c 1755:

Subject: RE: REQ:Rattlin' Roarin' Willy
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 19 Jan 98 - 10:45 PM

It's in the Digital Tradition database. Final g's have a way of being dropped, snd the Scots aren't always consistent about apostrophes. Try a search for: rattlin* roarin*

You'll get it.

Subject: RE: REQ:Rattlin' Roarin' Willy
From: Benjamin Bodhra/nai
Date: 20 Jan 98 - 08:25 PM

Thank you gentlemen. This of course has left me with a red face as I didn't think of looking for Willie just Willy.

le buiochas

BB