Origins: Annachie Gordon

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 21 - 06:43 PM

Does anybody have a recording of this melody? My music-reading abilities have sadly declined to the point where all I can do is pick out single notes on my guitar. :(

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 21 - 11:00 AM

Hey, I know it's been years since anybody commented here, but Aunt Molly Jackson's version of the song - which is probably the first recording of it - follows the melody that Joe Rae uses very closely. His rendition is on Youtube.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST,Ian Kirkpatrick
Date: 22 Nov 20 - 10:08 PM

Aunt Molly Jackson of Eastern Kentucky did a version of this song under the name Archie D. The tune is completely different from the one used today. I imagine there are not many American versions under the name Annachie though.

https://archive.org/details/AFC19390123337A

Archie D, Child 239 Anachie Gordon

Archie, D was beautiful, and easy, on the eye
He tempted, all the women, they could not, pass him by
He tempted, every woman, Just as, he tempted me
I’ll die if, I don’t get, my love, Archie D
Up spake, her old father, as he walked, by the door
Oh Jean, you’re a-playing, the tricks of, a whore

You are caring, for a man, that cares little, for thee
You must marry, Bill Shelton, and forget, Archie D
To marry, Bill Shelton, I’d rather, be dead
I’d rather marry, my Archie, and beg, for my bread
Oh Jean, you are foolish, you don’t understand
Bill Shelton, has money, and a lot of, free land

You’ll have money, for yourself Jean, and land and money, to give me
But you’ll never, have nothing, if you marry, Archie D
But I love Archie, and Archie he loves me
I’ll die if I don’t get, my love Archie D
Then up spoke her father, he spake in renown
Saying cheer up my daughter, get on your wedding gown

Go marry Bill Shelton, for ten thousand pounds
Oh cheer up my darling, and get on your wedding gown
Get ready my daughter, and go to town with me
And marry Bill Shelton, And forget this Archie D
I’ll marry no man, but my love Archie D
For I dearly love Archie, and I know he loves me

Yes I dearly love Archie, and I know he loves me
I’ll die if I don’t get, my love Archie D
Jean stepped in her chambers, and closed up her door
Saying farewell dear father, you shall see me no more
Archie may be drownded, in the blue briny sea
I’ll die if I don’t get, my love Archie D

I’m sure I can never, be Archie D’s wife
So I have decided, to end my own life
That evening Young Archie, Come home from the sea
And asked one of his maidens, where Jeannie might be
She has destroyed her life sir, because she loved thee
She destroyed her life, for the love of Archie D

Oh this is a pity, oh this is a sin
Please take me to the chamber, that my darling died in
Then she led him to the chamber, where Jean Gordon lay
He kissed her pale lips, as cold as the clay
Saying I always intended, to make her my wife
Then he kneeled down by the side of her, and ended his own life

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST,diplocase
Date: 01 Nov 19 - 02:36 AM

Annie Lore, well known in San Francisco Bay Area music circles, recorded Young Auchanachie on her LP The Grey Cocked Hat, now very hard to find. I have been singing her tune since the 1970s when I learned it from her singing in Sproul Plaza at UC Berkeley (which she frequented in her sky blue RenFaire garb). Her tune is in the same family as the one Nic Jones popularized, but is not the same. I don't have her album any more, so this is close but may not be identical to Annie's very singable and memorable version:

"Oh, Buchan it is bonny, and there lies my love
My heart is fixed on him, and it winnae remove                            will not
It winnae remove, no for all that I can dae                                     can do
And I never will forsake my love, Auchanachie."

Ben come her faither, steppin on the floor                                     in
He says "Jeannie, you are trying but the tricks o a hoor
Ye care meikle for him who cares little for thee:                         meikle = muckle, much
I'd have you marry Saltoun, and leave Auchanachie.

Auchanachie Gordon is nothing but a man,
And though that he be bonny, whaur lies his free land?
Whaur lies his free land, tae keep a lady wi?
I'd have you marry Saltoun, and leave Auchanachie."

"Saltoun is a valley, low down by the sea
And he's bowed in the back, and thrawn in the knee.            thrawn = bowlegged
It's in Lord Saltoun's arms that I will never be,
And I never will forget my love Auchanachie."

But Jeannie she was wedded, and from church was brought hame
And she's called for a chamber, tae weep there her lane
Tae weep there her lane, when sae merry she should be,
Sayin "I never will forsake my love, Auchanachie."

"All you that is her maidens, ye'll loose off her gown
And you that is her maidens, ye'll cause her lie down
Ye'll cause her lie down, tae lie her bridegroom wi
And he'll cause her to forget him, this young Auchanachie."

Them that was her maidens, they loosed off her gown
But bonny Jeannie Gorden, she fell in a swoon
She fell in a swoon, low down by their knee
Sayin "I never will forsake my love Auchanachie."

That day they wedded her, and that day she died
And that day young Auchanachie come in on the tide
Cam in on the tide, returning o'er the fleed,
Cryin "Whaur is bonny Jeannie, to meet Auchanachie?"

Down cam her maidens, wringing of their hands,
Sayin "Alas for your staying sae lang frae the land!
Sae lang frae the land, and sae lang on the fleed:
They've wadded your Jeannie, and now she lies deid!"          wedded, married off

"All you that is her maidens, tak me by the hand
And lead me tae the chamber my Jeannie lies in."
He kissed her cold lips full thirty times and three
And for bonny Jeannie Gordon young Auchanachie did dee.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST,Howard Jones
Date: 24 Sep 19 - 12:51 PM

Jeannie is a romantic fool. At at time when a woman's prospects depended on making a good marriage, she rejects her parents' efforts to secure her future by marrying her to a wealthy man (who treats her only with respect), instead preferring a life of poverty with a man who's left her behind to go travelling. Dying for love is romantic, but stupid. Instead she could have gone along with the marriage to Lord Saltoun while seeing young Annachie on the side - although admittedly in many ballads this often doesn't end well for one or both of the lovers.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 23 Sep 19 - 10:55 AM

> Young Jeannie is a true feminist.

Yes, but then again ... an alternative way of looking at it was posted a while ago on the other thread.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 19 - 10:51 PM

Is anybody there? Annachie is alive and kicking here in the USA. The "Me Too" movement won't let it die.

I'm doing my best to keep him and Jeannie alive. I've combined several versions of the lyrics in order to tell the story in a way that highlights Jeannie's

Young Jeannie is a true feminist. She resists her parents' efforts to legally prostitute her by selling her off to a wealthy old man. Jeannie remains true to herself and her chosen man, Annachie, by refusing to have sex with Lord Saulton, until her father either forces or bribes her maid to strip Jeannie's clothes off. Jeannie either collapses at her father's feet and dies for love of Annachie. More likely she slips herself the poison she has hidden in her skirts for just this purpose or maybe she simply faints, hits her head against the stone floor, and dies from her injuries. Either way, both her greedy parents and her wealthy suitor won't benefit. Unfortunately, neither will her true love, the sailor Annachie, who either commits suicide or dies of heartbreak when he learns of Jeannie's fate.

I have tried, in my interpretation, to convey Jeannie's pride, strength, and commitment to her what she understands as true love. Back in those days, any woman who stood up for her beliefs would've faced death anyway.

I hope at some point to record a version of ther song that doesn't have as many errors as this one, but it'll have to do for now.

https://www.facebook.com/cecilia.strakna/videos/vb.100001541530321/2352641784797183/?type=2&video_source=user_video_tab

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 02:12 PM

Happy New Year, Joe
I always find your posts fascinating.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 11:02 AM

Apart from hearing Joe singing since at various Scottish singing events, the first time I think I heard this song it was sung by Corrina Hewat at the "Scots Women" concert at Celtic Connections in Glasgow in 2001. It was subsequently released as a live CD on Greentrax.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Gutcher
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 07:22 AM

I should have mentioned in one of my previous posts above, that in one legal document there were seven different spellings for the name Achnahie.

In the timescale mentioned, {1555--!600} for rich people, and these were rich folk, it was the custom to have what are now known as pre-nuptial agreements and these would be recorded by the church, in this case the RC church as the Gordon"s adhered to that church for a much longer period than the majority of their neighbours.

Without access to the RC records, one cannot at this time name the designation of Jeanie Gordon"s family and put a firm date as to when the marriage took place, thus giving a base date to work from and possibly having further details in the surviving records of Jeanie"s family.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Gutcher
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 04:02 PM

Great weekend Matthew, where else could we get wall to wall doom and gloom with never a geetar in sight.
As regards the origins of this particular ballad my researches have come to an impasse on two counts--the R.C. church require an unquantified sum for a search of their records for the Bamff/Buchan area for the period in question and what records they do have may be in latin.
As mentioned on another thread last year I have ,to my own satisfaction, narrowed down the period when the events narrated in this ballad could have occured to 1555--1600, this being the only period when Achnahie of that Ilk who by some legal means retained the designation of Achnahie after having disponed the lands of that name to Gordon of Balnakettle who by the law of Scotland should have been known as Achnahie. As we could not have two people known as Achnahie at one time, Gordon to show his territorial designation and to distinguish himself from other Gordons would have adopted the style Achnahie Gordon while Andrew Achnahie was still living.
Joe.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 10:52 AM

Well it was lovely to hear Joe Rae in fine form when he sang this on Saturday night in the Canon's Gait in Edinburgh; I do hope the recording he made for the School of Scottish Studies will appear on the Tobar an Dualchais website before too long.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST,Céline La Frenière
Date: 21 Apr 13 - 10:37 PM

I am extremely grateful to Jim Dixon for this useful information. I have located the old version of Lord Saltoun and Annachie, which is perfect. Sorry I didn't make contact earlier. Like Joe, I'm not too adept with IT. I couldn't locate the site. Again, thank you. Céline

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Mar 13 - 05:04 PM

Here's a version that was published in 1876:

LORD SALTOUN AND ANNACHIE

http://books.google.com/books?id=SowwAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA10

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST,Céline La Frenière
Date: 19 Mar 13 - 02:22 PM

I am writing a novel in which one of my characters who has a beautiful voice sings the first 2 stanzas of this song. Would anyone know of a version of it, which is free from copyright? I am at a lost to know where to turn to either get permission to use the words from a modern singer or find a version which is free from copyright. Céline.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: pavane
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 11:42 AM

Here you will find a reference to Arendina Maria Hendrika ANNOCQUÉE, A Dutch lady, probably with a French background, who lived around 1780-1810.

Annachie is presumably the same name as ANNOCQUÉE

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Gutcher
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 05:19 PM

Steve the answer to your question is no. I passed the information as
found to the lady in the S.O.S.S. in the hope that they would do a
bit of research and come up with the answer.
As yet I have had no response from that source.
Joe.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 03:55 PM

Joe,
Have you got the dates for that wedding?

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Gutcher
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 12:22 PM

It has been mentioned to me that I do not give the proper designation
to Mr Gordon in the version of this ballad that I sing.
ACHNACHIE Gordon is what I sing and after recording it at the S.O.S.S. the young lady doing the recording and I had a discussion
on this apparent anomaly.
Shortly thereafter I was checking another subject when I came across
the mention of a wedding between a Miss Achnachi and a Mr Gordon
in the parish records of Knockando, the very area where the
ballad is supposed to have originated.
Oral transmittion is, in my view, vindicated by this discovery in as much as the name ACHNACHI was not unknown in those parts.
Who knows, the young lady"s father may have been Achnachi of that Ilk
and if she were his heir her husband would, by the law of Scotland,
have become Achnachi Gordon. A descendant of the marriage could have
been the Gordon of the ballad.
Joe.
Joe.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Deneb
Date: 09 May 10 - 05:48 AM

Hi to you all from Rome, Italy!

I decided to post a reply to this specific thread - even if I see that the last message was written in January, so I am not sure someone will read mine - because I was very interested in learning the song "Annachie Gordon" and found a great deal of information thanks to the discussion above.
So... thank you :)

Concerning the song, I will look for Joe Rae's album, as the version I know is probably Nic Jones'.

Singin' Gaia

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Gutcher
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 06:50 AM

Hello EFFsee
    If you knew me you would consider it more than astounding you
    would put it down as a miracle {ie} using a computer. It's
    amazing what fear can do to one, in this case fear of a visit
    from the dreaded VAT INSPECTOR,my accounting method being of
    the back of an envelope school.
    Being snow bound at present gives me the time to consult my
    books on Gordon family history do. Frazer, Lords Saltoun.
    Having gone through this exercise many years ago I do not
    expect to come up with any new facts about the ballad.
                                                          Joe. .

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Susan of DT
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 06:13 AM

Joe - Please register as a member of mudcat - easy and free - so we and others can exchange private messages with you. You probably have obsolete email addresses for both of us. Dick's email is all over this site, so no harm will be done to list it here: [e-mail] - the "music" part was added a few years ago. My old digitrad address is not functional.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Rasener
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 11:58 PM

I like the Unthanks very much and really like their version.

The Unthanks - Annachie Gordon

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Effsee
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 11:25 PM

I'm still trying to get my head round the idea that any Scotsman would go by the name of Hannah!

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 02:09 PM

Susan and Joe,
Many thanks for both of your excellent contributions. Unfortunately the broadside has no imprint, but is described as 'A New Song' a pretty meaningless term in the case of broadsides. It was used simply to increase sales.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST,Joe.
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 10:20 AM

Hello Susan,
               I remember you well from our meeting at Auchincruive
   it surely cannot be as far back as ten years. Give my regards to
   Dick his was one of the two e-mail addresses I had when I took to
   using this machine six weeks back & I was going to contact him at
   that time, however I got side tracked to Ulster & involved in
   long discussions on gospel songs in Scots the Scots Ulster
   language & the settlement in Ulster of Scots from the area where
   I live, in 1606                                                   
   Is the old Professor & his wife still to the fore? He was         
   really scandalized to learn that in Presbyterian Scotland
   we worked on Christmas day into the early sixties
                                                    Yours,
                                                          Joe.

Subject: Lyr Add: ACHNACHIE GORDON
From: Susan of DT
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 10:16 AM

Joe's version, from his Musical Traditions's CD: The Broom Blooms Bonny:

ACHNACHIE GORDON

Achnachie Gordon, is bonnie and braw
He'd would temp any woman that ever hw saw
He'd would temp any woman, and so has he tempted me
And I'll die if I getna my love, Achnachie

In comes her father skipping on the floor
Saying, "Jeannie, you're trying the tricks of a whore
You're caring for them that cares naething for thee
Ye maun marry Saltoun, forget Achnachie"

"Achnachie Gordon, he is but a man
Although he be pretty, whaur lies his free land?
Saltoun 's houms they lie bonnie and his toors they stand hie
Ye maun mairry with Lord Saltoun, forget Achnachie"

"Ye that are my parents to the church may me bring
But unto Lord Saltoun, I'll ne'er bear a son
For son or for daughter, I'll ne'er bow my knee
I'll die if I getna my love, Achnachie"

When Jeannie was mairriet from the church she was brocht hame
When wi' aa her maidens sae merry should hae been
When wi' aa her maidens sae merry should hae been
She's called for a chamber to weep there her lane

"Come to your bed, Jeannie, my honey and my sweet
For to style you my mistress, I do not think it meet"
"Mistress or Jeannie, it is aa yin tae me
For it's in your bed, Saltoun, I never will be"

Then oot spak her faither and he spak with renown
"Some o you that are her maidens, ye'll loose aff her gown
"Some o you that are her maidens, ye'll loose aff her gown
And I'll mend the marriage wi ten thousand pounds"

Then yin her maidens, they loosed aff her gown
But bonnie Jeanie Gordon, she fell in a swoon
She fell in a swoon low doon by their knee
Sayin, "Look on, I dee for my love Achnachie."

That very same morning Miss Jeannie did dee
Aye and hame came Achnachie, hame frae the sea
Her faither and mither welcomed him at the yett
He said, "Where's Miss Jeannie that she's nae here yet?

And down came her maidens and they're wringing of their hauns
Saying, "Alas, for your staying sae lang frae the land
Sae lang frae the land and sae lang frae the fleed
They hae wadded your Jeannie and noo she is deid"

"Some o' you that are maidens, tak me by the haund
An' show me to the chamber that Jeannie de'ed in"
And he kissed her cauld lips that were caulder than stane
And he's de'ed in the chamber that Jeannie de'ed in


This ballad from the far northeast of Scotland – the Gordon
family estate was near Elgin, while the Frasers of Saltoun
lived at Philorth, near Fraserborough – tells a story that is
relatively common in folksong and folklore; namely the forced
marriage of a young girl to a rich suitor, so that her family may
benefit from the family's estate. In this case, the girl dies,
as does her truelove when he returns from sea and is shown
her corpse.

John Rogerson, Joe's grandfather, learnt the ballad in South Africa
where it was sung by a fellow Gordon Highlander sometime during
the Boer War.
Child #239
@ballad @love @death
ascrecorded by Joe Rae
filename[ ANGORDN3
SF
2009
||

Subject: Lyr Add: HANNAH LE GORDON (from Bodleian)
From: Susan of DT
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 09:17 AM

Here is the Bodleian version:

HANNAH LE GORDON

Hannah Le Gordon is bonnie and braw
He would tempt any woman that ever he saw
He would tempt any woman, as well as he is done me
And tis all for my Hannah Le Gordon I'll die

In came her father into the room
Oh, Jenny, you're trying the tricks of a loun
Your liking a man that cares naething for thee
Yet it is all for my Hannah Le Gordon I'll die

Before I take salting [Soltan] with his guineas so red
With Hannah Le Gordon, I would beg my bread
How his houses are let and his lands they lay lea
Yet it is all for my Hannah Le Gordon I'll die

Home came her true love, home came he home
Her true love came home from the sea
Her parents kept him long at the gate
What aileth my Jenny she comes no out yet

Down came the Chambermaid wringing her hands
All for your staying so long on the sands
Your Jenny is married and now she is dead,
And it's all for staying so long on the flood

Chambermaid, chambermaid, who was so rude
As marry my Jenny and me on the flood
As marry my Jenny and me at sea
And it's all for the sake of my Jenny I'll die.

Chambermaid, chambermaid, you'll by and by
Show me to the chamber where my Jenny does lye
He has kissed her cold cheek and then her cold chin
And he's died in the room where his true Jenny lay in

Child #239
@ballad @love @death
From the Bodleian Library
versions of the song recorded by Cindy Mangsen, Joe Rae and Nic Jones
filename[ ANGORDN2
play.exe ANGORDON
SOF
2009
||

I'll look for the booklet that goes with Joe Rae's CD and post (and enter into the DT) Joe's version when I find it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 08:45 AM

You, know, at these moments I absolutely love Mudcat.

Welcome, Joe.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Susan of DT
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 08:44 AM

Hello Joe. Welcome to mudcat. If you sign in as a member, you can receive personal messages from other members. We met at a singing weekend in Southern Scotland at an agricultural college, ten years ago, or so. I think Peter Haywood organized that weekend...

Malcolm Douglas was a scholarly type who added good info to many discussions, including this one, see above. Alas, while he was a young man, he has passed on.

CAMSCO Music carries your CD

Susan Friedman

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 08:37 AM

Malcolm = the late Malcolm Douglas, who commented upthread - e.g.

Joe Rae's set has been mentioned several times in this thread. The text differs noticeably from Nic's, but follows the same pattern. The tune I haven't heard. Nic was quite clear that he'd adapted several texts, and Christie's tune; but memory, I suppose, could be faulty. Sheila Douglas' book was published in 1995, and Mike Yates' recording of Joe was released by Musical Traditions in 2001, having been made not long before. Nic originally recorded his set in 1977. Whether he was aware of Joe's version at that time I have no idea. It would be interesting to know if they met back in the 1970s, though it doesn't seem all that likely.

Of course there is no suggestion that Joe was influenced by Nic! I haven't heard him sing the song (which he learned from his grandfather, who learned it during the Boer War), though; and as I said, I've never heard anyone sing it who hadn't got it from Nic at one remove or more.

Worth reading the whole thread. Other comments include:

"As far as as I am aware Nic Jones collected the song from Joe Rae of Beith who is the most wonderful source singer and storyteller."

and

"Joe Rae, from Ayrshire, sang his version of this song on one of Nick Jones' guest visits at Kilmarnock Folk Club in the early seventies."

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST,Joe.
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 08:16 AM

Hello Steve.

{1} Who is or was Malcolm? The only Malcolm in my ken lives in
      Perth. He sings a beautiful translation of an old gaelic
      ballad from Glenlyon.

{2} Am trying to contact a friend who told me a few years back
      that the booklet to go with the CD was on the computer.
      If this fails I will type out the words.

{3} The CD is MTCD 313.
                         Yours,
                               Joe.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST,charlie
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 06:20 AM

Never heard D.Burland sing this, anyone know which album it is on?

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Effsee
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 10:51 PM

OMG, isn't the 'Cat just the most amazing site!
After 15 years this thread has just picked up a reply from one of the principal characters...Joe Rae!
Welcome kind Sir...this is astounding!

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST,Millindale
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 05:36 PM

Dave Burlands is my all time favourite version of the song. I would guess that his version owes a great deal to Nic Jones singing of the song.

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 05:15 PM

Hi Joe,
Welcome to Mudcat.
Now Malcolm is no longer with us I feel he and others like me would want to see your version of the text at least, so if you could post it here we would be grateful.

I know this is a long shot but have you any idea where or how your 'gutcher' learnt it? It would be interesting to compare it with the Christie and Grieg/Duncan versions.

What's the title of your Mustrad CD?

Subject: RE: Origins: Annachie Gordon
From: GUEST,joe
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 04:22 PM

Hello All,
          for the benefit of those who know me I must explain how I
come to be using a computer. The answer is necessity,at the back
end of last year I received a reminder from the Revenue & Customs
that as from April next they will not accept written VAT returns
all returns from then have to be on-line. I was therefore forced to
aquire a computer & am in the procces of teaching myself how to
use it.The fact that I am able to post on this thread shows the
progress being made.
Anent the ballad "Achnahie Gordon" I have been singing this for
more years than I care to remember. Certainly in public since the
1950s, in view of the number of portable tape recorders in use
since that time could Mr Jones have heard a recording of this
ballad? I doubt this & as I have never heard him singing this I
leave it to the musically gifted among you to compare the
traditional tune, as sung by me,to that composed by him.{I use the
term traditional as it is now well over a hundred years since my
gutcher learned it}
Thanks to all who remember me singing this ballad long before Mr
Jones composed a tune to the words.
In the early sixties my,then,new wife would instruct me before
appearing in company that I must not sing "that song" {A>G}
suffice to say that after near fifty years she has learned to
live with the auld ballads.
                            Yours,                              
                                  Joe.
   P.S.   When Mike recorded me neither he nor I realised I was ill
          I collapsed three days later with a blood clot & spent the
          next six weeks flat on my back in hospital.

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 09 - 01:25 AM

http://members.chello.nl/r.vandijk2/

here is listed almost 50 versions of the song, under the child number.
now to find them all.....

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: lesblank
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 11:32 AM

The most beautiful rendition of this great old ballad that I've heard is from Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsten's CD "Live at the Arc" sung by Cindy. She does it in a ringing high soprano voice that is simply haunting. I've heard her sing this on stage also several times but the CD version is just the best !!

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: Diva
Date: 26 Jun 05 - 08:32 AM

Hi auld timer!!! Joe's recording is of course magic and more power to Mike Yates for making the cd. I think Joe wasn't too well at the time of the recording but its still a belter.And pleased to relate he is back on form. BTW I nearly gave our local radio folk programme heart failure by playing the track "She widnae dae it" (its a bit earthy!!!)that'll be why they haven't asked me back then?

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 02:53 PM

No. Joe's tune is a fair wee bit different. More what I would call recognisably Scottish. Joe sings in an older, freer style and likes the big ballads and muckle sangs. He warms to company and good crack but perhaps wasn't quite 100% warmed up on his recording. Joe is also a mine of information on many topics of Scottish tradition and culture, if you have a spare hour, or five, or more.

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 01:58 PM

Yes, of course, Joe not John (I have John's Topic record, so perhaps that was in my mind). Maybe Nic's memory is at fault, then (he was rather forgetful even before the accident); he certainly used Christie as a source for various things, and perhaps there was a muddle somewhere. I really must get a copy of Joe's cd; I take it you'd say that his tune is essentially the same?

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 25 Jun 05 - 12:26 PM

John Rae was a fine hammer dulcimer player from Glenarm. Joe Rae, From Ayrshire, sang his version of this song on one of Nick Jones' guest visits at Kilmarnock Folk Club in the early seventies.

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 05:57 PM

I haven't heard Sharon sing the song for some years (or seen her at all, come to that, for quite a while) so I don't recall her opening line. I do remember that she used exactly Nic's form of the tune, though she may have learned it from an intermediate (but not a traditional) source. It isn't relevant to a discussion of the history or background of the song, though.

John Rae's set has been mentioned several times in this thread. The text differs noticeably from Nic's, but follows the same pattern. The tune I haven't heard. Nic was quite clear that he'd adapted several texts, and Christie's tune; but memory, I suppose, could be faulty. Sheila Douglas' book was published in 1995, and Mike Yates' recording of John was released by Musical Traditions in 2001, having been made not long before. Nic originally recorded his set in 1977. Whether he was aware of John's version at that time I have no idea. It would be interesting to know if they met back in the 1970s, though it doesn't seem all that likely.

Of course there is no suggestion that John was influenced by Nic! I haven't heard him sing the song (which he learned from his grandfather, who learned it during the Boer War), though; and as I said, I've never heard anyone sing it who hadn't got it from Nic at one remove or more.

Almost all the recorded examples mentioned here and in other threads on the subject are arrangements by revival performers who tend to learn songs from each others' records rather than from traditional sources, so concentrations of this kind aren't unusual. Before anyone gets the wrong end of the stick (it does happen), I'll add that I'm not suggesting that the distinction I make between revival and tradition implies any aesthetic or other value-judgement; just that they are two different things which need to be considered separately when examining the history of a song.

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: GUEST,Henryp
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 05:43 PM

Rather than the conventional first line - Buchan is bonny - Sharon Fountain used to sing something quite different. I was wondering what Strollin' Johnny has learned as the beginning of his version of the song.

In his posting, Villan includes, "In the end, the album featured 11 of Jones' best arrangements of traditional English and Scottish songs, adapted by Harding and Lloyd." The quote doesn't refer to Loreena McKennitt's album. It comes from an interview in Dirty Linen with John Wesley Harding, who released his notable album 'Trad Arr Jones' in 1999.

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 03:46 PM

Enjoy Newcastelton, Diva, keep away from the midges.

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 03:41 PM

Joe Rae from Beith in Ayrshire has a slightly different version and he's been singing it before Nick Jones' recorded version. I believe Joe has a CD on the Musical Traditions lable. Joe's text and tune are in, "Come Gie's A Sang", published by the TMSA (Traditional Music and Song Association), and printed by The Hardy Press in 1995.

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: Diva
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 08:26 AM

As far as as I am aware Nic Jones collected the song from Joe Rae of Beith who is the most wonderful source singer and storyteller. There is a version to be found in the song book "Come Gies a Sang" which is from Joe. I'll see him next weekend at Copshaw festival and will ask

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 08:07 AM

its wot you blow your nose on

Subject: RE: Folklore: annachie gordon, traditional
From:
Date: 24 Jun 05 - 04:35 AM

Hi, I named my son Annachie after having loved the ballad for many years. Can anyone tell me the meaning of the name?

maria