Lyr Req: Skippin Barfit through the Heather

03 Feb 00 - 11:39 AM (#172864)
Subject: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

I'm trying to find the lyrics to "skippin' barfit through the heather". It was recorded by Alison McMorland in 1970s on an album called "Belt wi' colours three" and was also described by Norman Buchan as "the most delicate fragile beautiful melody he'd ever heard. Can anyone help??

Andy

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03 Feb 00 - 11:55 AM (#172870)
Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: Wolfgang

Could it be related to QUEEN AMONG THE HEATHER?

Wolfgang

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03 Feb 00 - 02:49 PM (#172958)
Subject: Lyr Add: SKIPPIN' BARFIT THROUGH THE HEATHER
From: Malcolm Douglas

Other versions and related songs on the database:

Amongst the Heather
Heather on the Moor
Doon the Moor (two versions)

Alison McMorland learnt her version from Jessie Murray of Buckie, who sang it at the first Edinburgh People's Festival in 1951.  Here it is (taken from Ailie Munro's The Folk Music Revival in Scotland):

As I was walkin' doon yon hill
It was in a summer evenin',
It was there I spied a bonny lass
Skippin' barfit through the heather.

Eh but she was neatly dressed,
She neither needed hat nor feather;
She was the queen among them a',
Skippin' barfit through the heather.

"Will ye come wi' me, my bonny lass,
Will ye come wi' me and leave the heather?
It's silks an' satins ye will wear
If ye come wi' me and leave the heather."

She wore a goon o' bonnie blue,
Her petticoats were a pheasant colour,
And in between the stripes were seen
Shinin' bells o' bloomin' heather.

"Oh young man your offer's good,
But sae weel I ken ye will deceive me:
But gin ye tak my hert awa'
Better if I had never seen ye."

Oh but she was neatly dressed,
She neither needed hat nor feather;
She was the queen among them a',
Skippin' barfit through the heather.
^^
Malcolm

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04 Feb 00 - 05:46 AM (#173387)
Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: GUEST

Malcolm, Thanks v. much for the lyrics and the background info. I think Jessie Murray was also the woman that Norman Buchan was quoted about. I've heard a lot about the People's Festival ceilidhs (comments from Hamish Henderson etc.). I also heard a bit from it on Radio Scotland once. Do recordings of them exist??

Andy

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15 Dec 00 - 10:48 PM (#358093)
Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: Alan of Australia

G'day,
Thanks to Malcolm the tune for "Skippin' Barfit Through The Heather" can be found here at the Mudcat MIDI site.

Cheers,
Alan

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15 Dec 00 - 11:23 PM (#358115)
Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: Bill D

I believe this was the title of Jean Redpath's first album....

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16 Dec 00 - 01:45 AM (#358158)
Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: GUEST,Bruce O.

Bill D is correct. I still have the LP.

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16 Dec 00 - 01:52 AM (#358160)
Subject: RE: lyr req: Skippin' barfit through the
From: GUEST,Bruce O.

Sorry, I'm repeating myself. See two earlier threads on 'heather on the moor' for some early history.

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