13 Jul 13 - 08:26 AM (#3536962) Subject: Lyr Req: My Name is Maggie Bell From: Kenny B (inactive) A freiend keeps asking Bellng me do i know a song that starts "My Name is Maggie Bell" Ive Googled , youtubed and mudcat searched to no avail. The rhythm of the first line continues similarly. it sound to me like a music hall song or a song from the Scottish shortbread tin era. Any thoughts? |
13 Jul 13 - 10:37 AM (#3536994) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Name is Maggie Bell From: Jim Carroll If it's the one I'm thinking of, it's a Sots music hall song once sung by Belle Stewart and is entitled Betsy Bell You might find it under "I wonder what's tae dae wi' all the men" - which is chorus line. If you can't find it, I think we have a recording of it - pm me. Jim Carroll |
13 Jul 13 - 11:09 AM (#3537005) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Name is Maggie Bell From: Jim Carroll There you go Jim Carroll Betsy Bell Sung by Belle Stewart From Doomsday in the Afternoon (MacColl and Seeger) Noo. my name is Betsy Bell, in the Overgatc I dwell. Nae doot ye'll wonder what I'm daein' here; But if ye wait a wee, sure my tale I'll tell to thee. It's a tale nae doot ye'll think is very queer. For I'm loukin' for a lad and he may he guid or bad. For I'm gaun to tak' the first yin that I see; He may be young or auld, or grey-heided, friends, or bald - It's Anything that wears the breeks for me. O, but for lads I've had my share, sure I've ha'en a score or mair. But hoo they threw me up I dinnae ken: For I'm neither prood nor shy that the lads should pass me by, O, I wonder what's a-dae wi' a' the men. 4 Noo. as I gaed oot last nichi. I met wi' Sandy Richt And he hauled me in as I was passin' by: He asked me if I'd wed. so this is what I said. "Man. if you are quite agreeable, so am I." verse 2 is occasionally repealed here)_ |
14 Jul 13 - 09:05 AM (#3537250) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Name is Maggie Bell From: Kenny B (inactive) Thanks Jim thats definately the tune and probably the original version "Betsy Bell by Uthank I think there is a "Glasgow" Version on the lines of "My name is Maggie Bell in the Gallowgate i dwell" the Overgate i know of is in Dundee and probaly other places too Thanks Again Kenny B |
14 Jul 13 - 02:22 PM (#3537340) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Name is Maggie Bell From: Kenny B (inactive) Now that I have been pointed in the right direction the "Glasgow version" is in the DT Betsy Bell in the DT |
15 Jul 13 - 04:39 AM (#3537542) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Name is Maggie Bell (Betsy Bell) From: BobKnight There are other verses too, other than the version Jim has posted here, as I've heard Sheila (Stewart)sing this quite a few times. |
17 Jul 13 - 02:54 PM (#3538567) Subject: Lyr Add: BETSY BELL (from Belle Stewart) From: Jim Dixon Here's my transcription of the song from Spotify. Please be patient with my attempt to render "braid Scots." I am not a native speaker! BETSY BELL As sung by Belle Stewart on "Voice of the People 10: Who's That at My Bed Window?" O my name is Betsy Bell; in the Overgate I dwell. Nae doot ye'll wonder what I'm daein here, But ever ye wait a wee, sure my tale I'll tell to thee. It's a tale nae doot ye'll think is very queer. For I'm loukin for a lad and he may he guid or bad. I'm gaun to tak the first yin that I see. He may be young or auld, or grey-heided, freends, or bauld. It's onything that wears the breeks for me. O, but o lads I've had my share; sure I've haen a score or mair, But hoo they threw me up, I dinnae ken, For I'm neither prood nor shy, that the lads should pass me by. O, I wonder what's adae wi aa the men. Noo. as I gaed oot last nicht, sure I met wi Sandy Richt, And he hauled me in as I wis passin by. He asked me if I'd wed, so this is what I said: "Man, if you are quite agreeable, so am I." O, I was sae prood o the chance, sure wi joy it made me dance, An the marriage it was to be right there an then, But when I got my marriage frock, ach, he said it was aa a joke, So I wonder what's adae wi aa the men. O, but o lads I've had my share; sure I've haen a score or mair, But hoo they threw me up, I dinnae ken, For I'm neither prood nor shy, that the lads should pass me by. O, I wonder what's adae wi aa the men. Noo as I gaed oot yestreen, I could scarce believe my een, For I met auld Janet Cooke wi a lad, And if it's true whit aa folks say, she'll be wed a month the day. Man, the thocht's enough to drive a body mad. For I ken auld Janet Cooke, an she drinks just like a duke. Her age it runs a good threescore an ten, And as for husbands she's had three, an there's no a chance for me. O, I wonder what's adae wi aa the men. O, but o lads I've had my share; sure I've haen a score or mair, But hoo they threw me up, I dinnae ken, For I'm neither prood nor shy, that the lads should pass me by. O, I wonder what's adae wi aa the men. But if there's ony laddie here that wad like a little dear, A widower or a bachelor though he be, If on marriage he is bent, then I'll gie my consent. It's no every day he'll get a chance like me. For I can weave an I can wark; I can wash an mend a sark. I'm as thrifty as ony lass I ken, But on the nail I'll hang, and till I get leave tae sang, I wonder what's adae wi aa the men. |
17 Jul 13 - 03:25 PM (#3538596) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Betsy Bell (from Belle Stewart) From: Anne Neilson My awareness of the Janet Cook quatrain is that she 'drinks just like a deuk (duck)', and the final two lines I know as 'But on the nail I'll hing, an' I'll aye get leave tae sing -- / Oh I wonder whit's a-dae wi' a' the men!'. |
17 Jul 13 - 03:28 PM (#3538599) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Betsy Bell (from Belle Stewart) From: GUEST,Auldtimer "Janet Cook drinks just like a duke". The duke here is an other way of saying DUCK. She drinks like a duck. |
17 Jul 13 - 03:52 PM (#3538616) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Betsy Bell (from Belle Stewart) From: Jim Dixon Do you mean dukes aren't known for their drunkenness? I'm disappointed. |
11 Jun 19 - 11:31 PM (#3996054) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Betsy Bell (from Belle Stewart) From: FreddyHeadey Here's a Belle Stewart page & recording http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/62116/1 |