Lyr Req: Johnny, My Lad (Gordeanna McCulloch)

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNY MY LAD (Gordeanna McCulloch)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 06:40 PM

I've checked Gordeanna's version of 'Johnny, My Lad' (Fare Thee Well Whisky) on 'In Freenship's Name', and there's one word I think I've got wrong. In verse 1 and verse 3 the expression 'The day is / the days are fu' spent' occurs, only 'fu'' doesn't sound like 'fu'' but more like 'fore'. She clearly sings 'fu'' in the last verse, so maybe there is a Scottish expression involved that is unfamiliar to me. This is the full text:

JOHNNY MY LAD
(Trad)

Aye Johnny lad, are ye thinkin' on risin'
The day is fu' spent and the nicht comin' on
When there you sit drinkin' an' leave me lamentin'
So rise up my Johnny and cam awa' hame

Och aye Johnny lad, when we first fell a-courtin'
Nae hunger nor thirst would hae troubled my mind
When we could walk oot in a fine summer gloamin'
And never aince thoucht o' gan awa' hame

But oh Johnny lad, they days are forgotten
They days are fu' spent and they'll never come again
But we'll hope for the future and try and dae better
So rise up my Johnny and cam awa' hame

Och aye Johnny lad, the bairns are a' greetin'
Nae meal in the barrel tae fill their wee wames
And there you sit drinkin' and leave me lamentin'
So rise up my Johnny and cam awa' hame

When Johnny heard this, tae the door he gae'd stoopin'
Says, Wae's tae the tavern that e'er I cam in
Says, Fareweel tae whisky, for ye am I thirsty
I'll nae mair gang a-drinkin' at e'en

Noo Johnny walks oot in a fine summer gloamin'
Wi' wife an' wi bairnies fu' neat and fu' clean
When no long afore they were hangin' in tatters
An' Johnny in the ale-hoose, drinkin' at e'en

As sung by Gordeanna McCulloch

Subject: RE: Help req. w. Gordeanna McCulloch lyrics
From: Lighter
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 07:25 PM

"Far" spent, I think.

Subject: RE: Help req. w. Gordeanna McCulloch lyrics
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 08:31 PM

Gordeanna got her text from Greig-Duncan volume 3, number 587, version I (Annie Shirer). I don't have that volume, but there are people here who do.

Subject: RE: Help req. w. Gordeanna McCulloch lyrics
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 02:28 AM

Malcolm Annie Shirer provided 2 versions in G-D vol 3: K and L (I is unrecorded source) and Gordeanna's is from L. (as they say)

The 2nd line has far spent (which was in the version I used to sing, the source of which I was at a loss to find yesterday, though it wasn't G-D), as in nearly all versions there, though Annie Shirer's K version had a' spent. Verse 3 also has far spent not fu' spent.

I'll post the full text later (off to walk eager dog) (that's literal not euphemism).

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNIE, MY LAD (from Greig-Duncan)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 04:27 AM

Here's the version from Greig-Duncan. There are some differences with Gordeanna's version, so if this was her source, she's adapted it a bit. A great singer though, not seen nearly often enough South of the border.

Mick

---

JOHNNIE, MY LAD

Hey Johnnie lad, are ye thinkin' o' risin'?
The day is far spent, and the nicht comin' on;
When there ye sit drinkin' and leave me lamentin',
So rise up, my Johnnie, and come awa' hame.

O hey Johnnie lad when we were first acquaint,
Nae hunger nor thirst wad hae troubled my mind,
When we could walk oot in a fine summer gloamin',
And never ance thocht o' gaun awa' hame.

But oh Johnnie lad, that days are forgotten,
That days are far spent and they'll never come again;
But we'll hope for the future and try and dae better,
So rise up, my Johnnie, and come awa' hame.

Oh hey Johnnie lad, the bairnies are a' greetin',
Nae meal in the barrel tae fill their we mou's;
And there ye sit drinkin' and leave me lamentin',
So rise up, my Johnnie, and come awa' hame.

When Johnnie heard this, tae the door he gaed stoopin',
Says, Wae's to the tavern that e'er I cam' in;
Says, Farewell whisky, for thee I'm aye thirsty,
I'll nae mair gang a-drinkin' at e'en.

Noo Johnnie can walk oot in a fine summer gloamin',
Wi' his wife and his bairnies fu' neat and fu' clean;
When nae lang afore they were hingin' in tatters,
And Johnnie in the alehoose drinkin' at e'en.


Source:: The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection Vol 3 ed Shuldham-Shaw, Lyle & Hall. Collected from Miss Annie Shirer.

The notes say: "From a Mr John Dick, twenty-five years ago. He is now in Fraserburgh and is a fine singer by ear" A.S.

Subject: RE: Help req. w. Gordeanna McCulloch lyrics
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 05:42 PM

Thank you, Mudcatters, and Mick in particular! I suppose I should have been able to work it out for myself, but I couldn't, and it kept bugging me ...

Subject: RE: Help req. w. Gordeanna McCulloch lyrics
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 07:31 PM

Susanne it was Malcolm that came up with the reference - all I did was copy words! (I've got Gordeanna's Sheath & Knife, but sadly not In Freenship's Name)

Mick