Lyr Req: Borderlands

Subject: Lyr Req: Borderlands
From: Jimmy C
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 04:53 PM

Looking for the words and a bit of history for this scottish song. All I have is the following.

The english were ruled by a german man
Dundee rode with the highland clans
And in between ???????
Lay the peceful folk of the borderlands


Chorus


Borderlands, Borderlands
There was never a gun on the border run
Till they shed the blood of a border mand


Any help would be appreciated

Jimmy C.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Borderlands
From: Snuffy
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 05:23 PM

I have it on a comilation CD, which is in the car at the moment. If nobody else comes up with the goods, I'll see if I can transcribe it over the weekend

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Borderlands
From: Jimmy C
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 12:42 AM

THanks Snuffy, That would be great. Will check the thread on Sunday ,or Monday. There is a song " Borderlands" listed in the DT but it is not the one in question.

Subject: Lyr Add: BORDER LANDS (Watt Nicoll)
From: Snuffy
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 07:07 PM

It was written and recorded by Watt Nicoll (ca 1970 I'm guessing), but I wouldn't necessarily rely too much on its historical accuracy - songwriters are not on oath when creating. The border folk were not renowned for being peaceful.

BORDER LANDS
(Watt Nicoll)

Border lands, Border lands
There was never a gun on the Border run
Till they shed the blood of a Border man

Now the English were ruled by a German man
Dundee rode with a Highland clan
And in between lying low and free[?]
Were the peaceful folks of the Border lands

Ah we're damned if we fight with an English might
Nor do we stand with the Highland clans
But we'll stay home and mind our own
We're the peaceful folks in the Border lands

So south came Dundee from the high, high land
North came William with his military plans
Raped and burnt, made a battle front
And the blood ran red through the Border lands

So the Lindsays, the Ramsays, the Scotts, and the Hays
Elliots, Kerrs and the Johnsons they[?]
That drew their swords, aye and shed the blood
Of every man who passed that way

Dundee hated all the lords in the south
His name courted[?] curses from these English mouths
But they rode as one on the the Border lands
And left tears and grief in every Border house

Subject: Lyr Add: Borderlands
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 08:02 PM

Add in the Subject box for Snuffy's post of 18 Sep 04 - 07:07 PM this thread. Ta, Snuffy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Borderlands
From: Jimmy C
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 08:55 PM

Thanks a lot Snuffy. Now I can start practising.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Borderlands
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 09:31 PM

Snuffy - is that Watt Nicoll or "Nicholl"?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Borderlands
From: Snuffy
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 06:20 PM

I would have expected "Wat Nicholl", Joe. But on the CD sleeve notes it's spelt "Watt Nicoll". And that's how he's spelt all over the web.

He seems to have abandoned folksinging in favour of motivational programmes but his earlier career can be reviewed on Nigel Gatherer's website.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Borderlands
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 11:07 PM

BORDER LANDS appeared on Watt Nicoll's album "Nice To Be Nice" (XTRA LP 1122, 1971). It is also on the various-artists compilation "The Best of Scottish Folk" (St. Clair CD 7156, 2001).