Lyr Req/Add: I'm A' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: I'm A' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie
From: GUEST,thnidu
Date: 10 Mar 12 - 09:22 PM

And here's a video of a superb violinist, Vanessa-Mae, playing it, with a capoeira video!

Subject: RE: req/ADD: I'm A' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie
From: Ron Davies
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 09:03 PM

It's interesting how your perspective changes based on what you're familiar with. I'm pretty sure I knew and loved the Bruch Scottish Fantasy before I even knew there was a song called "Scots Wha' Hae"--so what Bruch does seems just great to me.   I've just finished listening first a voice-guitar version of the song (really stirring) and then to that section of the Fantasy----this sort of comparison is a great aspect of YouTube.


And they're both just wonderful.   I can see now why the Bruch approach might bother you, Jim.   He just does what classical composers do all the time--many variations on a theme--which is of course only part of the song.    But of course I've heard it so many times, it seems just right to me.   (And of course the fact that Jan also considers it a highly romantic and stirring piece is a plus too (to put it mildly).

I also may have to take Kendall's advice and get the Heifetz version---the passion in his performance is truly stunning.   (Even though this would be going against my general rule of only getting one version of a classical piece--after all, there are so many pieces I don't even have one version of.

And it's great just to know what song the last part of the Fantasy is based on.   Thanks for pointing that out.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: I'm A' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie
From: Jim McLean
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 03:46 PM

I, too, enjoy Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy but I find the final movement extremely irritating. The play on Scots Wha Ha'e (or whatever you want to name the tune) is repeated ad nauseum ... only my opinion, and drives me up the wall.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: I'm A' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie
From: Ron Davies
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 12:18 AM

The Max Bruch Scottish Fantasy is just plain wonderfully gorgeous--and this is one--but not the only one--highlight of it.    Romantic?--OK, guilty as charged.

It's great to have the words to the song, by the way.   Thanks for that--and so much more--to Malcolm Douglas, sadly no longer with us.



Max Bruch's first violin concerto is again just a luscious piece.

I have them both on one CD--and it's a huge favorite here.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: I'm A' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jun 10 - 05:20 AM

Hello 2 year old thread!

For those of you looking for a video of this song performed by jascha heifetz, here you go!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P6H3Ycg_KA

Subject: RE: req/ADD: I'm A' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie
From: GUEST,Prince Senoro
Date: 23 Jan 10 - 08:33 AM

hey can you share me the music sheet for this? im a doun for johnnie?

Subject: RE: req/ADD: I'm A' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Jan 10 - 08:53 PM

I'M A' DOUN FOR LACK O' JOHNNIE, with musical notation for one voice and piano, can be found in The Songs of Scotland: Adapted to Their Appropriate Melodies, Volume 2 by George Farquhar Graham (Edinburgh: Wood and Co., 1848), page 136.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: I'm a' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie
From: GUEST,serf
Date: 14 Dec 09 - 08:58 AM

where can i find this i'm doun for lack of johnnie score?anyone has it?vanessa mae played it juz too in depth..i almost cried though...

Subject: RE: req/ADD: I'm a' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie
From: GUEST,J. P. Linegar
Date: 19 Jul 09 - 09:06 PM

I've loved this melody since the first time I heard Heifitz play it as part of the Bruch Scottish Fantasy. Successive violinists have played it much the same way as Heifitz, but the way Vanessa Mae does it is now my favorite version. It's astonishingly beautiful and melancholy.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: I'm a' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie
From: GUEST,sanil
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 06:13 AM

Folks,

I was listening to this song from my IPOD and just googled ..I AM A DOUN and found this page.
I will upload the song (mp3 and putthe link here)


Cheers
Sanil

Subject: RE: req/ADD: I'm a Doun for Lack O'Johnnie
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 12:22 PM

Hi, Newdawn -
You'll see a couple of links to MIDI files on this page. If you right-click a link, you can download the MIDI file. Then you can use any MIDI program to print out sheet music.
If that doesn't work for you, send me an e-mail and I can make up sheet music for you.
-Joe Offer-
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i'm a doun
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 08:59 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yexrDPEfDRw&mode=related&search=

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i'm a doun
From: GUEST,newdawn
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 03:35 PM

Does anyone know where I can get the sheet music to this peice? I have been trying to find it (or the songs from scottland book) but so far no luck. I'd be much obliged for any advice. Thanks:)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i'm a doun
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 12:45 PM

Quite so.  It's astonishing what complex edifices of bizarre invention people will build in order to explain a simple word or phrase they have misunderstood or mis-heard!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i'm a doun
From: weepiper
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 12:41 PM

"gin" generally means 'if' or since'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i'm a doun
From: kendall
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 06:15 AM

I never kid about the worlds greatest violinist

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i'm a doun
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 11:03 PM

HEIFITZ??? Naw, you gotta be kidding.........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i'm a doun
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 08:20 PM

Kendall, I guess I haven't lived yet, but I'm trying to. ;-)

You can hear a midi of Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy here. Click on 2nd and 3rd movement under Bruch, fast forward to ~5:15. The sound of the midi is pretty bad, but at least you can hear the different voices and get an idea of the instrumentation.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i'm a doun
From: kendall
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 07:38 PM

You havn't lived until you have heard Jasha Heifitz play this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i'm a doun
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 06:17 PM

Thanks, Malcolm. I had a feeling the web page was a littly goofy.

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M A' DOUN FOR LACK O' JOHNNIE
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 05:40 PM

This song from the N.E. of Scotland was published in George Graham's Songs of Scotland (1853-1854), arranged by Finlay Dunn, who had no idea who wrote it. Max Bruch used the tune in his Scottish Fantasia for Violin and Orchestra (1880), which is a bit over-romantic, perhaps, but well worth listening to. Presumably, that's where Vanessa-Mae got hold of it.
^^

I'M A' DOUN FOR LACK O' JOHNNIE

I'm a' doun, doun, doun,
I'm doun for lack o' Johnnie;
I'm a' doun, doun, doun,
I'm doun for lack o' Johnnie.
Gin Johnnie kent I was na weel,
I'm sure he would come to me;
But o, gin he's forsaken me,
Och hone! what will come o' me!

I'm a' doun, doun, doun,
I'm doun for lack o' Johnnie;
I'm a' doun, doun, doun,
I'm doun for lack o' Johnnie.
I sit upon an auld feal sunk,
I spin and greet for Johnnie;
But gin he's gi'en me the begunk,
Och hone! What will come o' me!

Gin Johnnie kent: if Johnnie knew
Och hone: alas
auld feal sunk: old turf-seat
greet: weep
gi'en me the begunk: jilted me

No gin-houses anywhere in there, I can assure you! I believe there are other versions with more verses. I've made a midi from ABC notation transcribed by Nigel Gatherer from J.T. Surenne's The Songs of Scotland Without Words. This will go to Mudcat Midis, and can be heard in the meantime via the South Riding Folk Network site:

I'm a' Doun for Lack o' Johnnie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: i'm a doun
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 12:05 PM

Is this it? Not much here....

I'm a Doun for Lack O'Johnnie Lyrics

I'm o doun, doun, doun
I'm a doun for lack o'Johnnie
Gine Johnnie kent I was ne weel
I'm sure he would come to me
But o gin he's forsaken me
Och hone what will come o' me

I'm a Doun for Lack O'Johnnie translation

I am sad, sad, sad
I am sad for lack of Johnnie
If Johnnie knew that I was not well
I'm sure he would come to me

But in the gin-house he has forsaken me Oh now what will become of me

from:http://www.vanessamae.com/lyrics.shtml

Subject: i'm a doun
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 11:38 AM

hey, does anyone know the lyrics (and the meaning, that'll be helpful!) for a song that goes something like: "i'm a doun, doun, doun, doun; i'm a doun for lack of john." thanks.