Kelty Clippie

Subject: Kelty Clippie
From: Blackford John
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 07:28 AM

This is a very popular song in the gigs that I do around Central Scotland and Perthshire. Does anyone know who wrote the song? I've not been able to find out the writer from any of my usual sources.

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 07:32 AM

I think it was written by John Watt from Fife (obviously) there was a thread a few months ago which had the wurds.

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 07:44 AM

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Spaw

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 07:47 AM

Dash it all! spaw beats me! If it's not Murray or Malcolm Douglas...

I'll post it anyway just to show I got it: What the hell..

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From:
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 09:27 AM

Is indeed written by John Watt of Milnathort.

Scott

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 09:49 AM

John is still around, singing and writing.. I saw him at Girbvn in May when he was sporting a particularly ambitious fedora-style bunnet.

Cheers

Steven C

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: Jock Morris
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 05:22 PM

That's his Juan Watt hat:-) The man is rather fond of Spain, I kid thee not.

Scott

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: GUEST,Guest : Kenny B
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 05:41 PM

If you are interesyed in John Watt's music he has a current CD called "Heroes" on the "Living Tradition " Label. see www.folkmusic.net On it he sings his own compositions such as "The Kelty Clippie", "Pittenweem Jo", "Charlie Dickson" of Dunfermline Athletic FC Fame "John Thomson/Floors o' the Forest" - the Glasgow Celtic FC Goalkeeper, "I Dont Like Dundee" an 'incensed' reply to a Dundee man who wrote a song "I Dont Like Methil" and what I think is his piece de resistance "The day that Billy Cody Played the Old Grey Toon" I have seen John on a of times he is an excellent performer and the extract from his CD notes below describes him to a tee

"John is a prolific writer. In the tradition of "the peoples poets' his subjects are wide ranging taking in all kinds of issues, taking in all kinds of issues with a local flavour and a streetwise perspective. John is a natural wordsmith and most of the time he choses song as the vehicle to bear his words. Traditional song has a great influence on John and he has had a greater influence on the Scottish folkscene tha mos people appreciate. The overriding image of John is fun, but below the surface is lies some sharp political observation and social comment.

Kenny B

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: Bert
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 08:12 PM

I didn't realise that anyone nowadays knew what a Clippie was. My Mum was a Clippie on the Trams in London in her younger days.

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 08:18 PM

"A Dundee Man" was, I believe, none other than Michael Marra, who is also a great entertainer of a slightly idiosyncratic type. (He wrote "Hermless" and "Niel Gow's Apprentice" among others.) John Watt often performs around Fife/Lothians with Jack Beck. Tattie B

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 03:52 AM

Boab has been put straight on the error of a long-held belief---He aye had the impression that Bill Hill was the author of the Clippie.Ach!---I cannae be richt a' the time----

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: Cappuccino
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 05:13 AM

John Watt used to come to see me when I was working in a company in Dunfermline... he was working for an office-supplies company and he was supposed to sell me stationery. We spent every meeting talking music, and I don't think we ever did one bit of business!

- ian B

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 23 - 11:58 AM

Melody is “Maggie Cockabendy”

Subject: RE: Kelty Clippie
From: Vic Smith
Date: 27 Mar 23 - 01:12 PM

John Watt wa one of the great songwriters of the Scottish revival and I was fortunate enough to hear him often back in the 1960s and early 1970s at TMSA festivals and folk clubs all over the east of Scotland. He was a lovely man and a wonderful character. Here are the words of The Kelty Clippie

1]I have traveled round this country, from shore to shining shore,
From the swamps of Auchterderren, tae the jungles o’ Lochore,
But in a’ these far flung places, there’s none that can compare,
Wi’ the lily o’ Lumphinans, she’s ma lovely Maggie Blair.

Chorus : - O’ she’s just a Kelty clippie, she’ll no tak nae advice,
It’s ach drap deid, awa bile yer heid, or I’ll punch yer ticket twice,
Her faither’s jist a waster, her mither's on the game,
She’s just a Kelty clippie, but I love her just the same.

2] Fae the pyramids up in Kelty, tae the mansions in Glencraig,
We’ve trod the bings together, in many’s the blithe stravaig,
Watched the sun rise over Crosshill, trod Buckavens golden sands,
And many’s the happy night we’ve spent in Lochgelly’s happy land.

Chorus

3] Noo she hasn’ae got nae culture, she drives me round the bend,
She sits allnight in her old armchair reading the "Peoples Friend",
Her lapels is full o’ badges, fae Butlins doon at Ayr,
And she gangs tae the bingo every night, wi’ the curlers in her hair.

Chorus

4] Well I met her on the 8.15, that night o’ romantic bliss,
I says hey Mag whit’s in yer bag, gie’s a wee bit kiss,
Noo she didn’ae tak that kindly, she didn’ae like ma chaff,
And being a contrary kind o’ lass, she says "C’mon get aff!"

Chorus

5] Well things are a wee bit better noo, I’ve gone and bought the ring,
I won it fae Jim at the pitch and toss, last night at the Lindsay bing,
Wi’ her wee black bag and ticket machine, she did ma heart ensnare,
She’s the lily o’ Lumphinans, She’s ma bonnie Maggie Blair.

Chorus