Lyr Req: Nancy Whiskey / Nancy Whisky

Subject: RE: Nancy whisksy
From: rich r
Date: 24 Mar 97 - 08:20 PM

Here's one more verse to Carlton Weaver (Nancy Whiskey) from a Ewan MacColl rendition.

As I went out by Glascoe city,
Nancy Whiskey I chanced to smell;
I gave in, drank four and sixpence,
All 'twas left was crooked scale.

I Americanized the words slightly, now can anyone explain the significance of a "crooked scale?"

rich r

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Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyrics Req: Nancy Whiskey
From:
Date: 06 Nov 97 - 12:02 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics to Nancy Whiskey? The recording I had was stolen and I am left with naught but fond memories.

Otter "Whiskey, Whiskey, Nancy Whiskey. Whiskey, Whiskey, Nancey-O"

Subject: RE: Lyrics Req: Nancy Whiskey
From:
Date: 06 Nov 97 - 12:13 PM

Thanks anyway, I forgot the title is Carlton Weaver. I found it! Thank you all anyway!

Subject: RE: Lyrics Req: Nancy Whiskey
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 06 Nov 97 - 06:31 PM

G'day,
It's in the DT as CALTON Weaver.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CALTON WEAVER
From: Murray
Date: 07 Nov 97 - 04:44 AM

THE CALTON WEAVER

Full version in Gavin Greig, Folk-Song of the North-East, article XC, titled "The Dublin Weaver", and a slightly shorter one in Ord's Bothy Ballads, 372, "The Calton Weaver", which has a few more verses than the one in the DT:

I am a weaver...

As I gaed doon...

The more I kissed her...

[Extra verse:]
'Twas very early the next morning,
Finding myself in a strange bed,
I went to rise but I was not able,
For Nancy's charms they held my head.

I called the landlady...

[4 extra verses:]

It's I pulled out a purse with money,
And to her the reckoning I did pay down;
I paid to her thirty shillings, [= the amount demanded]
And all that remained was a single crown.

As I gaed down thro' Glasgow city
Nancy Whisky I chanced to smell,
I gaed in drank four and sixpence,
And a' 'twas left was a crooked scale.

Do I regard one single sixpence,
Or will I lay it up in store?
I'll go back and hae another gill,
It will help me home to work for more.

Then I'll go back to my old master,
So merrily I'll mak' the shuttle fly;
For I'll mak' mair at the Calton weaving
Than ever I did in a roving way.

So come all ye [etc.]

[Greig's text differs a bit, mainly as follows:]

I'm a... Dublin weaver...

...Dublin city...And I went in for to see my Nancy,
It's seven long years since I loved her well.

[Note that this changes the sense a little]

I went in with hat in hand,
And I asked pardon for being so free;
Nancy Whisky jumped on the table,--
"You're welcome in, young man, to me."

The more [etc.]

It's ben the house did come the landlord,
And he asked me for to stay all night,
And Nancy Whisky would bear me company
Till tomorrow morning or daylight.

It's in the morning [etc.]

Down the stair then came the landlord
... "Just fifty shillings, with bygone reckonings;
So pay it down and go your way."

I put my hand into my pocket,
The money all I did lay down;
And all that was left to pay meat and clothing,
It's all that was left was a single crown.

I stepped down a little farther ... crooked scale....

Now will I drink this single sixpence?...

I'll go home to my old master...

Come all you weavers [etc.].

Greig's 3 & 5 are omitted by Ord. The Irish version might well be the original, tho' the old burgh of Calton [later incorporated into the city] was well known for its weavers.

The sentiment of the song is similar to "O Brandy Leave Me Alone" (a South American lament).
This is often called "Nancy Whisky", and at times it's difficult to determine whether it should be taken literally or as an extended metaphor. In the fifties a Scottish folksinger [real name escapes me] took "NW" as her stage name.

HTML line breaks added. I hope this is what was intended! --JoeClone, 21-May-02.

Subject: RE: Lyrics Req: Nancy Whiskey
From: Rich Lange
Date: 07 Nov 97 - 10:44 AM

You might check out Shane MacGowan's version on "The Snake". No references to the Carlton Weavers there.....

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Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: REQ: Nancy Whiskey
From:
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 05:52 AM

Hi,

Looking for words and chords for "Nancy Whiskey" - probably Scottish folk song.

Thanx in advance. Sláinte,

Szarak

Subject: RE: REQ: Nancy Whiskey
From: rich r
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 08:06 AM

It is in the DT under the name "Calton Weaver". I have seen it elsewhere under the name Carleton Weaver.

rich r

Subject: RE: REQ: Nancy Whiskey
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 12:00 PM

Szarak-
One of the advantages of the DT database is that you don't have to know the title; just search for Nancy and you'll find the song (Whisky is more problematicalScotch Whisky has no "e", everbody else's is whiskey).
You could tighten up your search by looking for [Nancy Whisk*]; the asterisk is a wild card and the brackets indicate that it's a phrase.

Subject: LYR ADD: Nancy Whisky
From:
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 01:48 PM

Here's the Nancy I know

I'm a weaver a calton weaver
I am a rash and a rovin' blade
I've got silver in my pocket
And I follow the rovin' trade

Chours: Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Whisky
Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Oh!,
Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Whisky
Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Oh!

As I went in through Glasgow City
Nancy Whiskey I chaced to smell
I went in sat down beside her
Seven long years I've loved her well

Chorus:

The more I kissed her the more I loved her
The more i kissed her the more she smiled
Soon I forgot my mother's teachin'
Nancy soon had me beguiled

Chorus:

Now as I arose early in the mornin'
To slack my thrist it was my need
I tried to rise but I was not able
Nancy had me by the knees

Chorus:

So I'm goin' back to the Calton weavin'
I'll surly make them shuttles fly
For I made more at the Calton weavin'
Then ever I did in the rovin' way

Chorus:

So come all ye weaver's you Calton weaver's
Come all you weaver's were ere you be
Beware of Whisky, Nancy Whisky
She'll rune you like she ruined me

Chorus:

Subject: RE: REQ: Nancy Whiskey
From: Szarak
Date: 10 Apr 98 - 05:12 PM

Thanx Dick,

I know quite well these tricks with wildcards, cause I've spent my first 10 years programming smaller or larger (always f......) computers. What I wanted were other versions and what's more important - chords.

Regards,

Szarak

Subject: RE: REQ: Nancy Whiskey
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 10 Apr 98 - 08:36 PM

If you download your own copy of the DT, you'll have all the tunes in SongWright format. A neat little program (shareware) called ABCMUS will do a quite creditable job of setting chords (of any desired degree of complexity) to the tune.

Subject: RE: REQ: Nancy Whiskey
From: Szarak
Date: 11 Apr 98 - 01:44 PM

Thanx Dick,

I didn't know about these features. I will try - thanx once more.

Szarak

Subject: RE: REQ: Nancy Whiskey
From:
Date: 12 Apr 98 - 10:20 PM

Everyone else's is not necessarily "e"

Scotch and Canadian (or Rye) whisky. Irish and Bourbon (or any other kind of American) whiskey.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Nancy Whisky
From: D Terrell
Date: 22 Apr 98 - 12:56 PM

I've heard another version, where the last line of the fourth verse goes " Nancy had me by the Heed (Head, if you figure in the accent). This seems to make more sence to me>

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Nancy Whisky
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 22 Apr 98 - 02:12 PM

In the interests of keeping Mudcat as uncrowded as possible, it's a good idea to run a quick search of the database before re-submitting something we already have.

Less work, too.

Subject: RE: REQ: Nancy Whiskey
From: Szarak
Date: 27 Apr 98 - 04:29 AM

Hi Dick,

I've done what you suggested. A neat little program called ABCMUS did a job of setting chords.

The quality was interesting - somewhat like my 60yo uncle, who comes to my birthday parties. He sings and plays my guitars and keyboards. Well, he likes it.

Regards,

Szarak