Lyr Req: High lassie high? / Hie, Jeannie, Hie

Subject: Lyric request : High lassie high
From:
Date: 11 Jul 03 - 01:34 PM

need lyrics for scottish trad? song
Chorus:
Sing high lassie high
And sing low lassie low
ye can never mak a singin' bird
Oot o' a hoodie craw
Help!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High lassie high
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 12:06 PM

I think the song you are looking for is "Hi Jeannie Hi" - I have the words somewhere, will have a dig around.

wr

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High lassie high
From: Little Robyn
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 06:01 PM

Ray Fisher sings it. (She's Archie's lttle sister and is married to Colin Ross - Northumbrian piper) and she sang it all around New Zealand last year when they were on tour. I think I have it on tape if no-one else can find it.
The tune, as you sing 'high', goes down and when you sing 'low', the tune goes up. Very amusing.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High lassie high
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 06:30 PM

"Hie, Jeannie Hie" is on Ray Fisher's Traditional Songs of Scotland (Saydisc).

Subject: Lyr Add: HIE, JEANNIE, HIE
From: Little Robyn
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 09:54 PM

I've found the video of Ray singing it at the Auckland Folk Festival in 2001 but even watching her mouth, I still can't figure out all the words. I checked using the 'Glossary of Scottish words' posted by John in Brisbane in 2000 and that filled in some gaps but there could be some mistakes still.

HIE, JEANNIE, HIE   

1.My faither was a gentleman and a gentleman was he,
But he has wed me tae an old man of 3 score years and 3.
chorus:
And sing hie, Jeannie hie, and sing low, Jeannie low,
Ye can never mak a singin' bird oot o' a hooded crow.

2.For when we gang tae bed at e'en he turns tae the wa'
And ne'er a hand he lays tae me till morning light might daw'.

3.For before I'd hae an old man wi' 30 ploo's and land,
I'd rather hae a young man wi only cap in hand.

4.Now some neighbors they advised me tae droon him in a well,
Some others they advised me for tae grind him in a mill.

5.But I hae ta'en my own advice and borne him tae a plain
And tied him tae a windlestrae, he'll ne'er come back again.

6.For my Faither was a gentleman and a gentleman was he,
But he has wed me tae an old man of 3 score years and 3.

In V5 I thought she said 'whinnal stray' but according to John windlestrae means withered grass so I guess that is it.
Also I'm not sure of V2, the bit about the 30 ploos. Who needs 30 plows for their farm?
Anyway, someone else might have a different version but that's the best my Kiwi ears can do!
Robyn

Subject: Lyr Add:HIE, JEANNIE, HIE
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 11:30 PM

Copied from notes to Traditional Songs of Scotland (Saydisc).

HIE, JEANNIE, HIE   

My faither was a gentleman and a gentleman was he,               father
But he's wed me tae an auld man, O threescore years and three. old
And sing hie, Jeannie, hie, and sing lo, Jeannie lo,                high low*
Ye can never mak a singin' bird oot o' a hoodie crow.          out of a hooded crow

Before I'd hae an auld man, wi' thirty ploos and land,         have with plough
I'd raither hae a young man, wi' only hat in hand.                rather
And sing hie......etc.

For whan we gang tae bed at e'en, he turns tae the wa',      go to night to the wall
And ne'er a hand he lays on me, till mornin' licht micht da',      light might dawn
And sing hie......etc.

Now some neebors hae advised me, tae droon him in a well,         nighbours to drown
Some ithers hae advised me, for tae grind him in a mill,
And sing hie......etc.

But I hae ta'en my ain advice, and borne him tae a plain,         have taken my own
And I've tied him tae a winnel strae, and he'll ne'er come back again.    loose piece of straw/ withered grass
And sing hie......etc.

                                                       *no real meaning -- more like a chant

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High lassie high
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 11:31 PM

neighbours

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High lassie high
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 11:43 PM

Masasto, I am so impressd.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High lassie high
From: Little Robyn
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 04:44 AM

Well, I wasn't far away, was I?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High lassie high
From: Wolfgang
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 07:11 AM

earlier Mudcat thread including lyrics

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: High lassie high
From: masato sakurai
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 07:20 AM

Sorry, my mistake. Whinnel strae is the phrase.

~Masato