Lyr Req: Dundee Weaver

Subject: Dundee Weaver
From: Allan S.
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 04:09 PM

On Arthur Argo's record "A wee thread of blue" he sings Dundee Weaver. In the 1st verse there are 2 words that I cant figure out. 1. Glascow FERLIN and 2. KELVIN hall What is a FERLIN and what is or was the Kelvin hall Some type of Lodge or what. I am embarassed to say that i've been singing it for the past 40 years and still dont know what they mean THanks everyone Allan

Subject: RE: Dundee Weaver
From: Bruce O.
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 04:43 PM

'Ferlie' is 'feller' in a version in Nigel Gatherer's 'Songs and Ballads of Dundee', p. 60, 1986. Gatherer in his notes cites a sequel by Matt McGinn of 1968 where it is 'fellae'.

Kelvin Ha' I don't know for sure, but think its a place name, as in "The Bleacher Lassie of Kelvinhaugh".

Subject: Lyr Add: DUNDEE WEAVER
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 07:44 PM

I was surprised to find that this classic was not in the DT. Here's the way Robin Hall taught it to me in London in 1958. We shared quite a few coffeehouse gigs at that time. I was getting paid under the counter, of course, since I had no work permit, but Caroline and I managed to survive for the year on those slim pickings, and had a free baby on the National Health at the same time. Here's the song:

DUNDEE WEAVER

I am a Dundee weaver, I come frae bonnie Dundee;
I met a Glasga fellae and he cam' courtin' me.
He took me oot a-walkin' doon by the Kelvinhaugh,
And there the dirty wee snotter stole my thingamajig awa'.
And there the dirty wee snotter stole my thingamajig awa'.

He took me oot a picnic doon by the rookin' glen;
He showed tae me the bonnie wee bird, he showed me the bonny wee hen.
He showed tae me the bonnie we bird, frae a linnet tae a craw;
He showed tae me the bird that stole my thingamajig awa'.
He showed tae me the bird that stole my thingamajig awa'.

So I'll gae back tae Dundee lookin' bonny, young and fair.
I'll put on my bucklin' shoes an' tie up my bonny brown hair.
I'll put on my corsets tight, tae mak' my body look sma',
And wha will ken by my rosy cheeks my thingamajig's awa'?
And wha will ken by my rosy cheeks my thingamajig's awa'?

So a' ye Dundee weavers, tak' this advice frae me:
Never let a fellae an inch above your knee;
An' never stand at the back o' your close, or up against the wa',
For, if you dae, ye can safely say, yer thingamajig's awa'.
If you dae, ye can safely say, yer thingamajig's awa'.

Some find this a bawdy song. I think of it as poignant. Perhaps some Glasgow geographer can help us out with the "rookin' glen" in the second verse. All I know is that's how Robin gave it to me, 'way back when.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Dundee Weaver
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 07:56 PM

Okay, Joe! Now that you're back from your wilderness trip, there's the third line in the second verse (the word "wee") to repair with your magic touch. Glad you survived the adventure.

Sandy, the world's worst proof-reader.

Subject: RE: Dundee Weaver
From: Les B
Date: 22 Jan 99 - 10:11 PM

I always thought "ferlie" was "fair lad" and "rookin glen" was "brook and glen" At least that's what I corrupted them to .

Subject: RE: Dundee Weaver
From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 23 Jan 99 - 09:02 AM

I'd heard it (ie, the way it came to my ears was) as the "Rutherglen". I've no idea about the geography of Glasgow, but it sounded as though it might be a place, which Kelvin Ha' apparently is.

This is the oral tradition, as misheard from recordings. I'm not sure whether I really want to know what it "really" is or not after all these years!!

Lhieuish,

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: Dundee Weaver
From: Allan.s
Date: 23 Jan 99 - 11:51 AM

Thanks everyone for the info on Dundee weaver. I just remembered that Arthur Argo had a speach impedament.Someone learned a song from him, and when singing it to Kenny Goldstein was told that Arthur had just gotten a new set of teeth which did not fit. and as a result was slurring many of his sounds. Ah so much for the folk process.