Lyr Req: Gan to the Kye wi' Me

Subject: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: Bagpuss
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 07:22 AM

I have tried searching for this song in the DT but couldn't find it. Only came up with a thread about the song, questioning the meaning of kye. I believe it was recorded by the High Level Ranters, and I am hoping it is the same one that I have forgotten! I used to sing it with a choir intertwined with Here's the Tender Comin'.

Anyone know the words?

Subject: Lyr Add: GAN TO THE KYE WI' ME
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 07:40 AM

Here are the words, I'll put the tune up later when I've a bit more time.

Mick

---

GAN TO THE KYE WI' ME

Gan to the kye wi' me, my love,
Gan to the kye wi' me;
Over the moor and thro' the grove,
I'll sing ditties to thee:
Cushie, thy pet, is lowing
Around her poor firstling's shed,
Tears in her eyes are flowing,
Because little Colly lies dead.
  Gan to the kye, etc

All the fine herd of cattle
Thy vigilant sire possest,
After his fall in battle
By rebel chieftains were prest:
Kine now is all our property,
Left by thy father's will;
Yet if we nurse it watchfully,
We may win geer enow still.
  Gan to the kye, etc

Source: Songs of Northern England - John Stokoe, 1893

Subject: Tune Add: GAN TO THE KYE WI' ME
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 07:07 PM

And here's the tune as promised.

Mick

---

X: 1
T:Gan To The Kye Wi' Me
M:9/8
L:1/8
S:Songs Of Northern England - John Stokoe 1893
K:Dm
A>BA A2 G FED|
w:Gan to the kye wi' me, my love,
A>BA A2 f e3|
w:Gan to the kye wi' me;
A>BA A2 G FED|
w:O-ver the moor and thro' the grove
F2 G Ad^c d2 z|
w:I'll sing dit-ties to thee:
A>BA f2 f ed|
w:Cush-ie, thy pet, is low-ing
^c|A>BA f2 f e3|
w:A-round her poor first-ling's shed,
A>BA f2 f ef|
w:Tears in her eyes are flow-ing,
g|fed Ad^c d3||
w:Be-cause lit-tle Col-ly lies dead.

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 09:51 PM

Kee! Yet again! See the previous 2 posts by MCP

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: Bagpuss
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 09:56 AM

Thanks Mick. I can vaguely remember the tune, but having the dots to refer to will be a great help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From:
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 02:14 AM

"Kye" is an older plural for "Cows". In the Bible, there is mention of "kine" = "cows", this is a shorter version of the same word.

Michael Bell

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 05:02 AM

Here's another one I found while on the hunt for the words you've been given. When the Kye come Hame
Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 01:20 PM

The word kye shows the close, old connection between England and Norway, for in Norwegian the plural of "ku" (cow) is "kyr".
Thanks for the lyrics!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Apr 11 - 12:38 AM

Mick, thanks for the tune (even if you did post it seven years ago). It's a good melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 02 Apr 11 - 06:37 AM

What a curious synchronicity - this is one of the very, very few times I've been on Mudcat since last June (I was checking an obit thread) and there's a mention of me on the very day!

Anyway, you're welcome leeneia!

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan to the Kye wi' Me
From: GUEST,TJ
Date: 19 May 11 - 07:44 PM

Hi there,

could someone please tell me what the lyrics mean in this song?

Not trying to be funny here but does "Gan to the kye" mean "Come with me to the cows?

I would like to know line for line if anyone would be so kind.

Cheers
TJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan to the Kye wi' Me
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 20 May 11 - 02:08 PM

Well, I can't find the definition of 'geer.' But except for that:

Gan to the kye wi' me, my love,
go to the cows with me, my love

Over the moor and thro' the grove,
I'll sing ditties to thee:
   self-explanatory

Cushie, thy pet, is lowing
Cushie (must be a favorite young cow)is mooing

Around her poor firstling's shed,
around the shed where her firstborn calf is

Tears in her eyes are flowing,
Because little Colly lies dead.
   (Colly must be the name of the calf)


All the fine herd of cattle thy vigilant sire possest,
    all the fine herd of cattle that your vigilant father owned

After his fall in battle By rebel chieftains were prest:
    were taken by rebel chieftains after he died in battle

Kine now is all our property left by thy father's will;
    all your father left us in his will was cattle
   
Yet if we nurse it watchfully,
    yet if we take good care of it (the property)

We may win geer enow still.
    we may acquire 'geer' enough yet.

Gan to the kye, etc
==============
I suspect that 'geer' means income, property, sustenance or something like that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan to the Kye wi' Me
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 02:23 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhyKXVxJ0c4

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan to the Kye wi' Me
From: Snuffy
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 09:03 AM

And I smiled as she passed
With her goods and her gear,
And that was the last
That I saw of my dear.