Tune Req: The Patriarch (Robert Burns)

23 Sep 00 - 01:23 PM (#303884)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE PATRIARCH (Robert Burns)
From: Catrin

I found these words in a a book I recently acquired. It's called 'A choice of Burn's Poems and Songs' selected by Sydney Goodsir Smith. No tunes in it though. I haven't yet learnt about mp3 files etc. but if someone has got a tune to this, I might well be inspired to learn how.

The book says its from 'The Merry Muses of Caledonia' November 1786.

The Patriarch

As honest Jacob on a night,
Wi' his beloved beauty,
Was duly laid on wedlock's bed,
And noddin' at his duty.

Tal de dal, etc:
"How lang, she says, ye fumblin' wretch,
Will ye be f---g at it?
My eldest wean might die of age,
Before that ye could get it.

"Ye pegh and grane, and groazle there,
And mak an unco splutter,
And I maun Ly and thole you here,
And fient a hair the better."

Then he, in wrath, put up his graith,
"The deevil's in the hizzie!
I mowe you as I mowe the lave,
And night and day I'm bisy.

"I've bairn'd the servant gypsies baith,
Forbye your titty Leah;
Ye barren Jad, ye put me mad,
What mair can I do wi you.

"There's ne'er a mowe I've gi'en the lave,
But ye ha'e got a dizzen;
And d---n'd a ane ye'se get again,
Although your c—t should gizzen."

Then Rachel calm, as ony lamb,
She claps him on the waulies;
Quo' she, "ne'er fasha woman's clash,
In trowth ye mowe me braulies."

"My dear 'tis true, for mony a mowe,
I'm your ungratefu' debtor,
But Ance again, I dinna ken,
We'll aiblens happen better."

Then honest man! Wi little wark,
He soon forgot his ire;
The patriarch, he coost the sark,
And up and till't like fire!

Any help at all would be very gratefully received.

Cheers,

Catrin

P.S. checked in the DT and forum search but couldn't find it.

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23 Sep 00 - 03:40 PM (#303952)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Patriarch - R.Burns
From: Malcolm Douglas

The tune specified in The Merry Muses is The Auld Cripple Dow, an .abc of which is at Bruce Olson's site:  Tunes in ABC for Scarce Songs 1  as The Auld Criple Dow.  Apparantly the tune originally prescribed was The Waukin' o' a Winter's Night, but I haven't managed to find any references to it.

Malcolm

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23 Sep 00 - 04:26 PM (#303971)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Patriarch - R.Burns
From: Catrin

Thanks Malcolm - printing it out as I speak! I will then study it and report back.

Cheers,

Catrin

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23 Sep 00 - 05:21 PM (#304000)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Patriarch - R.Burns
From: Malcolm Douglas

I've had a bit of a play with it, and it looks as if it will need some serious manipulation to fit the text!  Presumably the repeats should be omitted for singing.  I'll be interested to hear what you make of it.

Malcolm

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