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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: BobKnight Date: 30 Jun 09 - 06:12 PM Yes, Burns was originally, "Burnes" from "The Mearns," closer to Stonehaven than Forfar. So, lets get this straight, and as Scots we can tell you now - it means "Curly Head" nothing more. It could possibly be used as a uephemism, but the original meaning is a head with curly hair. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Bald Pow Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:30 PM Burn's father ( originally Burnes I understand)moved to Ayrshire from my neck of the woods, Forfar, in Scotland. The phrase "curly pow" is still in use here. A man has a "curly pow" if he is curly headed. There may have been other,more bawdy uses of the phrase in the 18th century. I have never heard any such usage in 60 years. My wife who hails fom Ayr also knows it to mean curly headed. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:10 PM A "curly pow" is a curly head to we Scots |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST Date: 28 Apr 09 - 07:30 AM Ah ! Spaw.... nice one... but is a wee bit like the proverbial bucket of dung from China... A bit far fetched !! Burns knew better, so he did. Cheers. McCullough. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 27 Apr 09 - 02:36 PM OH MY Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. LOL |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: gnu Date: 27 Apr 09 - 01:42 PM Hahahaaaaaaaa... heheheheeee.... |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 27 Apr 09 - 12:03 PM A "Curling Pow" happens when the stone of one team crashes into the stone of another and instead of moving it, the target stone shatters. This is why so many teams are going with stones from Crimea as they are made by the descendants of the Light Brigade who stayed in the Crimea after their battle with the infamous Curly Pow Warriors as I related earlier in the thread. Perhaps you missed it: Light Brigades were specially trained in night fighting and carried torches into battle. After encountering initial successes against Buddhist Monks they were assigned to battalions fighting against the Curley Pow Warriors in Crimea. On the night of September 15th they devastated the entire Daintey Davey Division, setting fire to their curley pows and sending them running in flaming retreat across the battlefield with the Light Brigade in chase. The "blunder" oft referred to was that the Light Brigade followed too closely. When the flaming Curley Pow Warriors stumbled through an unseen fourth dimensional time warp encountering a future supply dump of the Nazis in WWII, the whole place blew up killing the remaining Daveys but also a goodly number of the Light Brigade as well. So you can readily see that the dick explanation does not entirely hold water although it has been known to spit some out. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,McCullough Date: 27 Apr 09 - 06:35 AM I gathered from a folk singer of 25 years ago, that a Curling Pow, was in fact an erect penis. Coupled with the history behind the song, I believe that this is what Burns was refering to in the song. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 02 Mar 09 - 10:10 AM 'Dative as in "Wae's me for Prince Charlie..", of course.' Right on, bro! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: MartinRyan Date: 01 Mar 09 - 07:03 PM Dative as in "Wae's me for Prince Charlie..", of course. Regards |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 01 Mar 09 - 06:29 PM 'Weapon of Awesome Terror which was a very particular type of cannon which shot both cannonballs and petrified horseshit in equal proportions' Some may have thought Spaw was joking when he said that. But in the era before the invention of the tetanus shot, this was a deadly combination. In case no one has said it yet, 'leeze me on' is a corruption of 'lief is me,' which means 'dear to me.' The 'me' is dative, and this expression has a Germanic feel to it. This ties in nicely with the observation in another thread that broad Scots is derived from Lowlands dialects from across the sea to the east. Unfortunately that thread almost started World War III, so we won't talk about that. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: MartinRyan Date: 01 Mar 09 - 04:39 AM GUESTStoney You leave us Irish out of this, please - we have enough linguistic problems of our own! Regards |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: goatfell Date: 01 Mar 09 - 04:31 AM pow is Scotland is head and so curly Pow is curly hair |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Stoney Date: 28 Feb 09 - 08:37 AM Being of a naval background, my mind naturally performed a gestalt interpretation of the line, "So, lease/leeze me on your curly pow", which became, "So ease me on your curly plow". Ireland was primarily an agricultural nation, so the reference to a "curly plow" would be in keeping as bawdy double entrandre to the sexual act. heh! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 23 Jan 09 - 05:02 PM I think her nuns have been attacking by night........... Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: John MacKenzie Date: 23 Jan 09 - 04:22 PM You been at that wine Micca left behind, Mary? |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 23 Jan 09 - 04:21 PM Poor little angeleyes never came back. But this thread will never die. On this rock I stand; I shall not be moved. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: katlaughing Date: 07 Nov 08 - 12:06 AM Well, it's been a long time since I've had to clean up the litter box, Spaw! (Been kinda missing it, but I hope ya dinna scare awa' puir angeleyes!**bg**) luvyaanywaykat |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Effsee Date: 06 Nov 08 - 11:41 PM Angeleyes...""and WEEL I WAT he was worth his room" ... The translation would be... " And well I thought him worthy of his room". |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 06 Nov 08 - 11:37 PM I think it meant the W(H)EEL came off his cannon in the Crimean War. (See earlier post)....The WAT is an acronym used back then meaning Weapon of Awesome Terror which was a very particular type of cannon which shot both cannonballs and petrified horseshit in equal proportions. Horses back in those days were thought to run faster and longer after a good crap so shit was in good supply. The fact that the horses had not relieved their bowels has historically been seen as one of the major causal elements of failure in the charge of the Light Brigade (again, see earlier post) Always happy to help out on the infamous damned Dainty Davey thread. Now go away from this thread and enjoy some other part of the wondrous Mudcat Cafe......a fine place to be! Enjoy all the many things it has to offer but don't come back here again or I'll have to hurt you.............. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Burns lives Date: 06 Nov 08 - 07:58 PM The most modern version can be heard here: www.myspace.com/whytemarket |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: help with translation From: GUEST,guest: angeleyes Date: 07 Oct 08 - 08:48 PM I hope some one is still looking at this thread and can help me. I understand every line but one. Maybe i'm just lame but would some one translate "and WEEL I WAT he was worth his room" for me, PLEASE. Thanks |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Davy Date: 17 May 08 - 11:49 AM Here is a modern version hinting at what the words might have meant. http://whytemarket.com/id29.html |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 27 Mar 08 - 10:00 PM Oh Goodie. This is about to degenerate into "Who has the cutest name for his/her partner's nether regions. I read of one couple who called her breasts and privy parts Flopsie, Mopsie and Cottontail. Actually some guy wrote a book after collecting a few thousand of similar euphonisms. Ah Leeze me on your cottontail, Dainty Davey Dainty Davey. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Guest:: Lady Constance Date: 27 Mar 08 - 07:37 PM Of course according to some people the Covenanters were just another bunch of terrorists. Language is a wonderful thing, can mean such a lot in one word. Ever heard of euphemism? But why should sex stop it being a beautiful love song? What's wrong with sex? If I love a man I can get quite as romantic and sentimental about his genital region as about his head. The alternate history of the Crimea gave me a good laugh, thanks. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,crazy little woman Date: 15 Dec 07 - 01:29 PM Poor spaw. He must have read my post above. 'if you have ever read the fiction of P.G. Wodehouse, you know that when a man slips into a bedroom at night, he is bound to knock over a table covered with china dogs or to step on a cat's tail. This is precisely what the Rev. Williamson did. He collided with a bunch of tirly-whirlies (knicknacks), and they o'd. (Went over.) Bertie Wooster would tell you that it happens every time.' ======= Let's face it, Spaw is a gallant and faithful man, but he is never going to be a Bertie Wooster. Nobody is ever going to invite him for a long weekend at a stately home. He will never have a Jeeves to do all his laundry and bring him a cup of tea in bed, to be followed by bacon, eggs and toast. Never will he go to a jazz club and swing a swift shoe till the wee hours. Wearing a tux. So what does Spaw do? Takes it out on Dainty Davy. I ask you! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 14 Dec 07 - 11:08 PM Spaw does not have crabs. He lives nowhere near the sea. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Degsy Date: 14 Dec 07 - 05:57 PM Spaw, You are a true wordsmith and worthy of high praise for an interpretation that is probably every bit as accurate as most of those before it and after it. Several interpreters with obvious Scottish credentials have said categorically it is head or heid and so be it. Nuff said. Except to say that I now also have a vision of wench rubbing butter on a dandy's scalded tallywhacker (cheers Sinsull) to contend with when singing what was my favourite song. Thanks for the giggles. Laughter is the best medicine. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 14 Dec 07 - 05:22 PM Yeah Wee.....I want to give you a straight pow with my left and a followup cross pow with my right........................ Degsy, I'm sure mentioning Kelly is okay but next time mention the 49,361 interpreters on this thread and of course I should get a special mention for contributing all of that Crimean War history regarding the Curly Pow Warriors and the Dainty Davey Division. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Big Al Whittle Date: 14 Dec 07 - 04:47 PM well you wouldn't want a straight pow, would you? |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Degsy Date: 14 Dec 07 - 04:40 PM I sang Dainty Davie at a party recently and jaws dropped. It has that affect on people here in Ireland I have noticed (the song, not my singing). Luke Kelly brought it here I think, with many other Scottish folk songs that Irish people think are Irish, and I sing his version (2 in the dbase - the CURLY POW version so you know I'm still on thread) and I am just amazed that having read the whole thread that he wasn't mentioned once, so I just thought I'd mention him, if thats ok with you Mr. Spaw. Luke sang it very straight and I have to agree with a previous poster that it is such a beautiful song that it seems a shame that it has such bawdy variations. I'd much rather be thinking CURLY NAPPER than CURLY MINGE when I'm singing it. Oh gawd, I don't know if I will ever be able to keep a straight face again. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 02 Dec 07 - 09:16 AM I love this thread... |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST Date: 01 Dec 07 - 09:31 PM Who could possibly resist? Like the song but love the never-ending-thread. Sorry Catspaw, but as they say in "brawd suthren" SHEET FAR! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST Date: 29 Oct 07 - 05:05 PM Spaw has crabs??????????????? |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Neil D Date: 29 Oct 07 - 11:00 AM I always thought it was: 'Fleas be on thy girlie Spaw' ;o) |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Young Buchan Date: 29 Oct 07 - 08:57 AM OK, I've solved this one: there is a sign in British Sign Language in which the pointed forefinger of each hand passes simultaneously over the signer's head from front to back. It is used to indicate a total failure to understand what is being said. It is often glossed as 'that went right over my head', but among the Deaf it is pronounced (and I don't have time to explain how a sign can be pronounced - you'll just have to take my word) POW! Simple then. Deaf person turned up to early song session with interpreter. Someone started to sing Dainty Davey. Interpreter tried to translate 'Leaze me on your curly...', but then realized it made no sense and went POW! And so it passed into the Tradition. Well, that's my story. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Jim Lad Date: 06 Oct 07 - 04:23 AM "Have Hope" Haunts! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 06 Oct 07 - 01:20 AM http://www.emusic.com/album/10931/10931240.html lets you hear Navajo music as it might be heard at a pow wow. It's different. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,crazy little woman Date: 06 Oct 07 - 01:12 AM It's sad what propaganda will do to a sweet love story. David Williamson was a preacher and covenanter, a denomination that was cruelly repressed by the English authorities. He was fleeing a passel of soldiers (no doubt a bunch of thugs) when he came upon the house called Cherrytrees. (You don't suppose the soldiers were going to ask him for some ID, urge him to respect curfews, and let him be on his way, do you?) As it happened, the window into which he shot belonged to the daughter of the house. Now,if you have ever read the fiction of P.G. Wodehouse, you know that when a man slips into a bedroom at night, he is bound to knock over a table covered with china dogs or to step on a cat's tail. This is precisely what the Rev. Williamson did. He collided with a bunch of tirly-whirlies (knicknacks), and they o'd. (Went over.) Bertie Wooster would tell you that it happens every time. The daughter of the house looked upon his curly hair and his small but no-doubt-manly form, and saw that it was good. She did not want the soldiers to break his limbs or fracture his skull, so she hid him. In time she married him. As for all that stuff about her being unmarried and pregnant (how likely is that?) and Williamson having five or six wives - remember all that was in an account by his his enemy and persecutor. It behooved him to make Williamson look bad. As for 'leeze me on', it is a corruption of 'lief is me,' as mentioned already. the 'me' here is dative, so the phrase simply means dear is to me your curly head. Hurray for love! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 06 Oct 07 - 12:37 AM 'So what's a Pow Wow then?' Jim Lad, a pow wow is a get-together of Native Americans. It usually features dancing, drumming, food and other festive activities. To get an idea of what one is like, Google 'pow wow image.' |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 05 Oct 07 - 11:05 PM HMMMMM Maybe I will name the skunk Dainty Davey. Although I will keep his curly pow at a distance from now on. Not funny, Spaw. I stink; Seamus stinks; the yard stinks; the house stinks. More garlic than skunk. And I hate garlic. SIGH! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 05 Oct 07 - 10:42 PM Keep it up Sins and I'll send you some more skunks to live under your shed! That's what you get for getting such enjoyment about this simpleshit thread! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 05 Oct 07 - 10:21 PM A very impressive Curly Pow. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Jim Lad Date: 05 Oct 07 - 09:57 PM So what's a Pow Wow then? |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Peace Date: 05 Oct 07 - 02:15 PM A curly pow is a--sorry, be right back |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: SINSULL Date: 05 Oct 07 - 02:14 PM LOL I too love Dainty Davie and am always pleased when someone refreshes this thread. Read it ALL THE WAY THROUGH and then ask as many questions as you like. heh heh Welcome! SINS |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: catspaw49 Date: 05 Oct 07 - 01:54 PM You don't want to learn it. Go learn something else.
We have a ton of other songs around on this site....well over 10,000 as a matter of fact. Why not just skip this turkey? We have a bezillion variants on Barbara Allen if you like. And you want lullabyes? Yeah, we got 'em filling the diaper pail. Just screw Davey and his daintiness AND his curly pow!!!! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: GUEST,Bass and viol Date: 05 Oct 07 - 12:55 PM At a party, someone requested this song, and we heard a similar lyric to what is in this thread. I am not a folkie, and I had never heard it before. I'd like to learn it, has anyone got a lead sheet for me? Also, I read a history that says the fiddle refered to in the lyrics was a double entendre, but see no fiddle mentioned in the lyrics in any of these threads. Anyone have a lyric like that?I was actually very dissappointed to learn this is a dirty song, it was so lovely, I assumed it was a lullaby. Refreshed! |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: fumblefingers Date: 13 Jul 07 - 01:55 AM curly pow = curly hair on the head, or so my old English literature teacher told our class 40+ years ago. Any other definition is nonsense. |
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Subject: RE: Dainty Davey: What's a curly pow? From: Steve Shaw Date: 12 Jul 07 - 10:40 AM To us little lads in Lancashire streets in the 50s, pow meant haircut. |
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