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04 Dec 25 - 07:53 AM (#4232496) Subject: Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: Tattie Bogle The news reached many of us on Facebook yesterday of the death of one of Scotland's foremost folk legends two days ago, and there have been many tributes to this great man, including the following from Scott Gardiner, who knew him well. Copied and pasted with Scott's permission (he writes as he speaks - in Scots): "Sad news yesterday that Adam McNaughtan passed away at the age of 86. An accomplished and much loved English teacher and bookseller, he will be best remembered as a dedicated Glaswegian of great humour, and a towering figure of Scots songwriting and performance. I kent Adam all my singing life. He was one of the stars of the annual Muchty Festival in Fife, though many years he got no further north-east than that. His one appearance at Aberdeenshire's Cullerlie Singing Weekend is the maist recounted highlight of the event's 25 years, with his performance alongside Con Fada Ó Drisceoil (his - even taller - Irish counterpart) setting the standard for us all. Adam had a great enthusiasm for maist aspects of Scotland's song culture: a co-founder of Glasgow University Folk-Song Club who, as a teacher, helped run the Rutherglen Academy Ballads Club. He was Traditional Artist in Residence at The School of Scottish Studies and (with Emily Lyle) edited Volume 5 of the Greig-Duncan Folksong Collection. He was also an expert on street songs, children's songs, and the songs of the music hall. During this time he was performing regularly as a solo singer and with his pals in Stramash (Anne Neilson, Kevin Mitchell, Bob Blair, John Eaglesham and Finlay Allison). We baith performed at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC, and for the first couple of days would sit together on the bus going to the festival site. When the intense, early morning interrogations aboot the influence of The Poet's Box on the song traditions of Angus got ower much for me, it was time to get familiarised wi the Washington Metro ?? As well as the singing, Adam did a lot of MC-ing during his fortnicht there. Being a long way from Muchty, the festival had a list of ~20 event sponsors that the MCs had to keep mentioning. By Day 3, he had all the sponsors versified and a waiting list for the verses amongst the other MCs. One weet Sunday in a late October, Dunfermline's aspiring songwriters and aspiring bothy singers turned out in insufficient numbers for the respective workshops we were hosting. The decision was taken that morning to amalgamate the workshops, and he proceeded to lay out his philosophy. He saw himself as being another brick in the road of two great traditions: performing-wise as an "indoor street singer" and writing-wise as a "rhymer". Mony of us think that Adam was the best writer of Scots song in the second half of the 20th century, though his largely unaccompanied style and emphasis on fun meant that he created his own mould as a singer-songwriter. At a celebration of his work at this year's Celtic Connections, Sheena Wellington said he was Scotland's best ever writer of humorous songs. There was naebody disagreeing. In the last few years of his performing life, Adam was concerned that he couldna mind song words as well as he used to, and that he'd like someone else along with him when doing a full concert. These were some of the maist enjoyable concerts I've ever been involved in, with Adam getting big laughs from the very start: "Can I just say, how much of a pleasure it is to be performing this afternoon, alongside the artist formerly known as Young Scott Gardiner". A good few years ago, Adam's younger brother David moved in with him, and their support for each other (while maintaining near constant piss-taking) brocht a big bit of Craiglang to King's Park. Anyone who visited would leave with a story to tell. My favourite memory is of them demonstrating their Alexa (not really something you'd expect to find in the McNaughtan household) which they used to play music. She couldna understand what David and I were saying, but jumped to attention when Adam, with his gruff voice and dark humour goes: "Alexa, play You're Still Gonna Die". A true genius and a great character. He's much missed already." I have heard that there will not be a funeral, as per Adam's wishes, but a celebration of his life later. I'll add my own reminiscences below. |
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04 Dec 25 - 08:11 AM (#4232498) Subject: RE: Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: Tattie Bogle My own memories of Adam, which start from soon after we moved to Scotland in 1986. First encounter was at a medical conference on HIV/AIDS, which was of major concern in Edinburgh at that time. Adam was the lunchtime entertainment, to bring a lighter note to a rather sombre day, and had written a song relevant to the occasion to lift our mood. Then he was several times one of the stars of Maggie Cruickshank's annual fundraising concert: probably where I first heard his "Cholesterol" song and determined to learn it. We had a consultant haematologist in the audience, who nearly fell off her stool laughing at "I don't mind them probin' in my haemoglobin". And he had the whole company in organised uproar as he did his version of "Romeo and Juliet" and had everyone shouting for either Montagues or Capulets. Just one of several Shakespeare plays that he condensed into hilarious 5-minutes versions. (also "Oor Hamlet", "The Scottish Story" and "King Lear".) I was delighted to see him in the Stramash line-up - which Scott referred to - and to have him as a guest at one of our Singers' Gatherings in West Lothian. He also often came to the Glasgow Ballad Workshops (started by Anne Neilsen and Gordeanna McCulloch and Ronnie Clark), and was a great filler-in of any missing information with his encyclopaedic knowledge of the ballads. The last public performance of his that I saw would be at Nitten (Newtongrange) Folk Club, where he agreed to do half an evening, having officially retired from performing by then. I'll conclude by mentioning two others of his songs learned - "The Jeelie Piece Song" (aka The Skyscraper Wean") and, perhaps the most often sung in sessions song - "Yellow on the Broom" RIP Adam. |
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04 Dec 25 - 08:20 AM (#4232499) Subject: RE: Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: Johnny J Very sad news indeed. He did use to venture further North though. A fairly regular visitor to Inverness Folk Festival over the years both as a guest and a regular "folkie". I first hear him singing "Airchie Cathcart" up there not long after he composed same. Likely, a visitor to Thurso too although I never managed that festival myself. Ian and Margie always came to Inverness htough. |
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04 Dec 25 - 05:01 PM (#4232518) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: GUEST,johnmc I went into his bookshop some years back, and said how I liked his song about Thomas Muir, adding I was particularly taken with Dick Gaughan's version. He was not reticent about saying he preferred his own, at which point I quickly added it was the guitar playing that impressed me. When I asked if he had any Evelyn Waugh, I'm pretty sure he grimaced. |
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04 Dec 25 - 08:20 PM (#4232520) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: Charley Noble I never got to meet the man in person but I enjoyed corresponding with him about his songs over the years. He will be missed but well remembered. Charlie Ipcar |
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05 Dec 25 - 05:57 AM (#4232527) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: GUEST,Lang Johnnie Mor Very sad news. He did indeed venture "North". I spent a wonderful evening in his company along with Jim and Sylvia Barnes, Tom McConville and others at an Orkney Folk Festival, maybe late 1980s. So many good songs, and he was the very personification of that wonderful dry, droll, even lugubrious West coast of Scotland wit, perhaps best encapsulated in "Oor Hamlet". Anyone who can write lyrics such as "A sword fight wiz arranged fur the interested perties, Wi a bluntit sword for Hamlet, an' a sherp sword fur Laertes" deserves an Ivor Novello award. I'm in agreement with johnmc above, though. Dick Gaughan's rendition of Adam's "Thomas Muir of Hunterhill" is a masterpiece, and the song I will remember Adam for over all others. https://youtu.be/jeXew47nCPU?si=i0tdbEiGLHQbSD0F |
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05 Dec 25 - 06:22 AM (#4232529) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: Jack Campin He did a gig at Newtongrange Folk Club once - just him, no support, no accompanists, no guitar. He didn't need anything else. I went to his bookshop occasionally. Anybody who could source a copy of the Hitler Youth songbook had to be thorough about it. |
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05 Dec 25 - 09:51 AM (#4232539) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar Much missed man. In the very beginning days in Glasgow he showed me the text of The Buildin Next Tae Oors and asked if I could suggest or make a tune. I could not, so he used Ye Canny Shove Yer Grannie. Ach, if I had only helped I could have gone on to get half his royalties! A mighty maker, the very best. Ewan |
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05 Dec 25 - 10:06 AM (#4232541) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: GUEST,david parker a genius of a man.king of wordsmiths in his own right.i was lucky enough to see him perform with stramash in adelaides in glasgow many moons ago and have copies of his work on cassette tapes.i also have the mcginn of the calton concert on dvd which stramash did.r i p adam you will be so fondly remembered.genius. |
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05 Dec 25 - 04:16 PM (#4232555) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: GUEST A short report from the BBC News site. |
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06 Dec 25 - 04:18 AM (#4232563) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: GUEST,Jim McLean I reckon Adam was the cleverest songwriter I knew. his rhyming and language were superb and by the way, Ewan, you’d still lose out on royalties as I think the tune for “They’re Pulling Down…….” is Your ma wee gallus bloke nae mair, not Ye Cannae shove …… |
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06 Dec 25 - 08:20 PM (#4232592) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: Charley Noble Here's the lyrics to McNaughtan's protest song about replacing townhouses with high rise apartment buildings: The Jeelie Piece Song (Skyscraper Wean) (Adam MacNaughton) I'm a skyscraper wean, I live on the nineteenth flair, But I'm no gaun oot to play ony mair, Since we moved to Castlemilk, I'm wasting away, 'Cause I'm getting one less meal every day. O ye cannae fling pieces oot a twenty-story flat, Seven-hundred hungry weans will testify to that, If it's butter, cheese or jeely, if the breid is plain or pan, The odds against it reaching earth and ninety-nine to one. On the first day my maw flung out a piece o' Hovis brown. It came skyting oot the winda and went up insteid o' doon, But every twenty-seven hours it comes back into sight, 'Cause my piece went into orbit and became a satellite. One the second day my maw flung me a piece oot once again. It went and hit the pilot in a fast, low-flying plane. He scraped it off his goggles, shouting through the intercom: `The Clydeside Reds have got me wi' a breid-and-jeely bomb!' One the third day my maw thought she would try another throw. The Salvation Army band was staunin' doon below. `ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS' was the piece they should have played, But the oompah-man was playing a piece-on-marmalade. We've wrote away tae Oxfam to try and get some aid, And a' the weans in Castlemilk have formed a ``Piece' brigade; We're going to march to George's Square, demanding civil rights, Like `Nae Mair Hooses Over Piece-Flinging Height!' Cheerily, Charlie Ipcar |
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07 Dec 25 - 05:28 AM (#4232603) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: Tattie Bogle Thanks Charlie: the “second verse” there is actually the chorus, sung after each of the other verses. |
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07 Dec 25 - 09:36 AM (#4232608) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: Jack Campin A performance I saw in the People's Palace in Glasgow around 1989, about local government being on the take from building contractors, to the tune of "The Spanish Lady" with the splendid lines Flat roofs work just fine in Algeria, The punchline was "...it pays to be Frank" after some councillor of the time. Was that one of Adam's? Has anybody got all of it? |
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07 Dec 25 - 09:47 AM (#4232610) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar Ah Jim - yes you are right and I am wrong re that tune. What's new? Ewan |
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09 Dec 25 - 11:19 AM (#4232718) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: Waddon Pete A friend of mine used to sing "The Jeelie Piece Song" regularly in the 70's until we lost touch. I expect I could still remember most of it! It came as a shock to hear that Adam had died and he will be sorely missed. I am sending my condolences to all those who know and love him and have added his name to the "In Memoriam" thread. RIP Adam. |
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09 Dec 25 - 05:46 PM (#4232729) Subject: RE: 2025 Obit: Adam McNaughtan From: Sol RIP, "Hamlet" you'll be sorely missed. |
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10 Dec 25 - 03:22 PM (#4232766) Subject: RE: Obit: Adam McNaughtan (1939-2025) From: weerover A fine crafter of songs, Adam. "Oor Hamlet" a masterpiece, but has to be sung in a West of Scotland accent. I heard it done by Martin Carthy (generally a very fine performer) and it was awful. |
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11 Dec 25 - 08:28 PM (#4232847) Subject: RE: Obit: Adam McNaughtan (1939-2025) From: GUEST,RusticRick I like Martin Cathy but that was a know point. I was a bit disappointed he didn’t appear to give Adam credit for the composition in the YouTube version I heard but it may simply have not been recorded. I have enjoyed Adam’s singing and songs for probably 50 years (great rendition of the Jeely piece song from Rae Fisher somewhere in there. RIP Adam…and Archie, hope you’re jamming together in heaven. |