Lyr Req: St Columba and the Masons (Matt McGinn)

Subject: Hamish Imlach song?
From: Pexx97
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 12:41 PM

Words please of a song I think was done by Hamish Imlach which starts "Tuubalcain was a Mason,A straight Gaelic man"

Subject: Lyr Add: ST COLUMBA AND THE MASONS (Matt McGinn)
From: John-S
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:13 PM

I think this song is called St Columba and the Mason. It was written by Matt McGinn, and possibly Billy Connolly. It's on one of Matt's LPs, but I can't remember the name.

Tubal Cain was a Mason
A square dealing man.
He was aye on the level
With a shake o' his han'.

Wi' his feet at right angles
He was sure to go far
Nonchalantly gein' signals
As he stood at the bar

Tell me who is your granny
He sigalled tae me
As he rolled up his troosers
Tae expose his left knee

He was fond of the folk songs
He preferred them tae jazz
And his favourite folk singer
Was called Joan Boaz

But it cost him a fortune
For these secret delights
So he told me last Tuesday
He's joining the Knights
Of Saint Columba.

Subject: RE: Hamish Imlach song?
From: Big Tim
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 06:21 AM

I've got a recording of it by Matt McGinn called "St Columba and the Masons [plural]". It's credited to "McGinn, Connolly, Harvey" tho whether this as composers, or perforers on the track is not stated (Matt sings it, but but other voices do the "echo" and instrumentation. The words are almost identical to those posted above. The tune used is, I think, "Stewball".

Subject: RE: Hamish Imlach song?
From: Jim McLean
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 06:34 AM

I think it started off as a song called McGinty (was a racehorse..), also to the tune of Stewball, by Billy Connolly and Tam Harvey when they were the Humblebums. Then Matt got together with them on this song "St Columba and the Masons"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hamish Imlach song?
From: GUEST,br
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 03:55 PM

IT's on " The Return of the Two Heided Man"

If you like this you will also love "the Big Glasgow Polis ".

Check out the new Matt McGinn website ; www.mattmcginn.info for details of the CD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hamish Imlach song?
From: GUEST,br
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 03:57 PM

one thing i never understood about this song; why the joan BOAZ line ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hamish Imlach song? - Tubal Cain
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 05:23 PM

Just because she was a well known folk singer at the time and was made to rhyme with 'jazz'! It's funny!!?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hamish Imlach song? - Tubal Cain
From: John-S
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 05:44 PM

Isn't Boaz a masonic password?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hamish Imlach song? - Tubal Cain
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 05:55 PM

I believe it's a name given to the grip! (Hence the double entendre)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hamish Imlach song? - Tubal Cain
From: Pexx97
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 06:30 PM

Thanks to everyone who answered my query. Sorry I have not replied but work has meant I have only just been able to get back to the site today. After many years of searching for these lyrics just a couple of hours after my question was posted the answer appears. What great people there are out there. THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!