Lyr Req: Blue Ribbon Song? / The Scotsman's Kilt

06 Mar 02 - 12:46 AM (#663453)
Subject: Blue Ribbon Song
From: GUEST,sf

I'm trying to find a song which may be titled "The Blue Ribbon Song". It's story about a Scottsman and two young ladies. One phrase in the song is.."I don't know where you've been, but I see you've won first prize." Can anyone help?

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06 Mar 02 - 02:16 AM (#663472)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: nutty

Hi sf ...... the song is called The Scotsman's Kilt and it's here in the DT

click here

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06 Mar 02 - 03:20 PM (#663850)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: Mac Tattie

This is most likley an American song. A First prize in the UK is awarded a red rosette or ribbon, second prize is blue and third prize yellow. cheers

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06 Mar 02 - 03:45 PM (#663860)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: Murray MacLeod

Mac Tattie. are you quite certain of that ? I may be mistaken, but I seem to remember seeing a picture of a Smithfield's champion, and he was wearing a blue rosette. However, memory may be playing me false ...

Murray

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06 Mar 02 - 03:55 PM (#663867)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: Murray MacLeod

Apologies, my memory doth play me false. Colors in the UK are indeed as MT states above.

However, as no British girl would have the audacity to lift the kilt of a sleeping Scotsman, we may safely assume that the escapade is indeed set in the USA, in which case the "blue ribbon" is still valid.

Murray

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06 Mar 02 - 04:43 PM (#663895)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: McGrath of Harlow

Of course it was the Blue Riband for crossing the Atlantic fastest. So maybe the red ribbon for first place in other contexs is only a recent convention.

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06 Mar 02 - 04:50 PM (#663905)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy

It is an Andy M. Stewart song, if I am not mistaken, too too overly popular in US, maybe written for the US market, as you say about the colors, in my estimation, not his best, but I hate 'Take her in your arms' as well, even though it is in the traditional style! How we Americans (some of us, anyway) do giggle & blush over the mere idea of such natural things! & British girls know full well what is under there, that's why they don't have to look! I keep waiting to hear about the young Prince having to present identification in some American bar when someone would ask, 'oh yeah? Show us you're Willie!'

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06 Mar 02 - 04:54 PM (#663906)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy

now that I think about it it might actually be a Paul Brady song, I'll have to look into it!

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06 Mar 02 - 11:03 PM (#663965)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: Sorcha

Think Mike Cross.............

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06 Mar 02 - 11:49 PM (#663994)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: Genie

So, Bill, are you saying if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all?

Or, maybe that's the idea--they KNEW what was under there. They just lifted the kilt for the express purpose of TYING the RIBBON on it!

Genie

§;-)

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07 Mar 02 - 08:12 AM (#664123)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: MMario

in some versions i've heard it is "a fine silk ribbon" - no mention of colour

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07 Mar 02 - 08:50 AM (#664137)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy

my sincere apologies to all Mudcatters for going off half cocked like that! Some times it's difficult keeping everything straight!

Of course, it is Mike Cross who penned it, it appears on Bryan Bowers recording 'Home, Home on the Road', Flying Fish, 1980, simply titled 'The Scotsman'.

In conversation with Bryan recently he had remarked on how tired he became of singing that song every place he played for years afterwards, he doesn't do it now much. Paul Brady had been on my mind, don't know how I could have thought it was his song, (it was late, I was tired) sorry again for doing myself what I often cringe at by others, someone jumping into a thread before they really are sure of what they have to say. It shouldn't happen again (unless it's late, and I'm tired, I suppose!). I do stand behind my other comments though, don't care much for that Andy Stewart song, which he himself says he tossed off for the craic, not serious about it. The Mike Cross song is cute enough, though some of the rhymes aare a bit forced, and you don't ever need to hear it twice, a long way to go for a laugh you've had before you get there. I suppose if you were going to perform it in the UK you would change it to a red ribbon, or just change the last line to 'but I see you've won a prize.'

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07 Mar 02 - 09:24 AM (#664153)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: Murray MacLeod

I don't agree with you about "Take Her in Your Arms", Bill. I think it is rather a fine song.

I know what you mean about "The Scotsman" . I wouldn't say that the rhymes themselves are forced but the syntax is certainly squeezed quite a bit in order to get the rhymes into the right places.

I like doing "The Scotsman" , but I don't think I shall sing it much in Scotland (unless there are Americans in the audience ....*G*)

Murray

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07 Mar 02 - 10:22 AM (#664185)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy

Well & correctly put, Murray, or should I say 'Spot on', as to the syntax being manipulated, not so much forcing the rhyme as having to speak wierd English to get it at the end of a line. I should be more careful and exact in expressing what I mean to say, but one gets a bit sloppy when rushing to get something said. My typing is good, but sometimes I won't always bother to correct spelling either. Andy Stewart in his songbook is a bit surprised by the popularity of 'Take Her in Your Arms' doesn't rate it as among his best, and as I said nor do I. There is a tradition in Irish song in English (talked about by either o'Crainnin or Joyce, can't remember who, so I really shouldn't attribute it to anyone, forgive me gentle readers!) of using very long words, of 4-6 syllables for the rhymers, which Andy clearly is tapping into here, but it is sort of easy to add an '-idation', '-ulation' or just plain '-tation' to a word to make it work. My argument is not with the songwriting per se, I just don't care much for the story it tells, don't believe it, could never have and would never have asked my Da for advice about women, and though 'Faint heart ne'er won fair lady' is proven time and again, not everyone is to be taken in one's arms and have false promises made to them!

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07 Mar 02 - 10:41 AM (#664196)
Subject: RE: Blue Ribbon Song
From: Murray MacLeod

Bill, I can certainly see your point about "THIYA", although the advice contained therein is advice which I implement at every opportunity. WIth my wife, I hasten to add.

You have given me an idea. We should really have a thread on "Forced Rhymes" , but maybe it has been already done. No doubt someone will provide a link if the topic has in fact been covered.

Murray

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