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17 May 04 - 09:54 AM (#1187200) Subject: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Scabby Douglas I know there's a band. A very good band. I know there's a saying. However, I can't track down a song with this as part of its title. I may have missed it, though... Just to explain more fully - I have written a song, which uses the phrase, but I don't want to steal an existing song title. Can anyone help? |
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17 May 04 - 09:58 AM (#1187203) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: GUEST,howard_bonner@yahoo.ca BAIRNS is scottish for children, offspring, etc. Line is 'Old Jock Tamsons Children'. Quite possibly a song or line from same. |
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17 May 04 - 10:03 AM (#1187206) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Scabby Douglas Thanks for that, but I wasn't looking for a translation, and in any case it's not "Old Jock Tamson's" , but it's "All Jock Tamson's". I know what it means, which is why I used it in a song, but I'm wondering whether someone *else* has used it.. |
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17 May 04 - 10:09 AM (#1187208) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: HB I see nothing wrong with using the line even if it is a song title. Along as you haven't used the whole of a song which obviously you have not, use it. I ran a search and nothing comes up in ascap or bmi. |
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17 May 04 - 10:55 AM (#1187235) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Scabby Douglas Thanks, HB.. Yeah, I know there's nothing *wrong* with a number of different songs sharing a title. I'm just a little fastidious about stuff like that. If I've gone to the trouble of making up (sounds awfully pretentious to say "composed") my own melody, and written my own lyrics, I don't see why I shouldn't make the effort and come up with an original title. Thanks for your help. Steven |
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17 May 04 - 12:26 PM (#1187287) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: nutty There is a song called "We're a' John Tamson's Bairns" words by Joseph Roy esq. Published in Songs of the British Isles (Second Series) The chorus goes.................. Oh, we're a' John Tamson's bairns, We're a' John Tamson's bairns, There'll never be peace in the world again Till we hear them singin' wi' micht and wi' main We're a' John Tamson's bairns |
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17 May 04 - 12:50 PM (#1187299) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Bardford John R. Campbell, a Calgary musician, has a song with a similar title. Not recorded yet, as far as I know. |
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17 May 04 - 03:00 PM (#1187370) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: GUEST,MCP According to Roud's index We're A' John Tamson's Bairns (6321)appears both in Ford's Vagabond Songs And Ballads and in Greig's Folk Song of the North East Mick |
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17 May 04 - 03:53 PM (#1187402) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Malcolm Douglas You can see a broadside edition of 1869 at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads: We're a' John Tamson's bairns |
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17 May 04 - 07:26 PM (#1187495) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Scabby Douglas I've tried both the links above, and so far been unable to connect, but I think it's a server problem at their end. Thank you for your help. I thought there must be something around. I'm annoyed that I hadn't thought of searching on "John Tamson" I must look out this song in any case. Thanks again |
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18 May 04 - 03:40 PM (#1187901) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Susanne (skw) Looking forward to hearing the new one in July, Steven! All the best to the Glasgow session! |
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18 May 04 - 05:47 PM (#1187996) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Scabby Douglas Susanne.. if you're desperate to hear it, there's a lo-fi version which is streamed here: Click here It's the one called "cominghome lofi.mp3" And I'll look forward to seeing you in July at Café Source. By the way, there's a new venue opening up in Glasgow over at Byres Road/Gt Western Rd, called "Oran Mor". It's a bar/restaurant/performance venue. I think they are opening up with a bang at the West End Festival. All the best Steven |
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18 May 04 - 07:32 PM (#1188081) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Tattie Bogle This is the same song that won the recent Girvan festival songwriting competition, deservedly so; seeing as how Steven doesn't mention his success, I will! Well done again, enjoying listening to it again via the link! |
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19 May 04 - 04:27 AM (#1188295) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Scabby Douglas Thanks for the kind remarks, Tattie. Are we acquainted? |
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23 May 04 - 01:26 PM (#1192038) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Tattie Bogle I also took part in said competition; did the song about redundancy/unemployment |
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23 May 04 - 08:23 PM (#1192319) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Scabby Douglas I remember it very well - excellent song. |
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24 May 04 - 07:17 PM (#1193187) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Tattie Bogle Scratching backs? No, yours was better! |
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19 Jun 04 - 02:12 PM (#1210496) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: GUEST Phrase originates in edinburgh scotland fron late 1800's. Reverend John Thomson (Jock Tamsons) of Duddingston Kirk called his congregation his bairn's (children) - means that we are all children of god hope this helps gerry (edinburgh) |
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19 Jun 04 - 08:27 PM (#1210673) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: GUEST,Scabby Douglas Hmm - that's interesting, gerry. Thank you for that. The other usage of the name Jock or John Tamson seems to have been as a colloquial way of referring to someone meek or subdued or henpecked. I think that usage pre-dates the Jock Tamson's bairns phrase - perhaps back to Walter Scott or before. If the name or a form of it was proverbial already, it may have been easy for it to become incorporated into a new saying. Thanks again... |
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20 Jun 04 - 11:24 AM (#1210918) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Drumshanty May Mayberry sang this at Keith Festival last weekend and it was a bit of a hit. People in the audience were singing the chorus as if they had known it all their lives by the Saturday night ceilidhs. She also passed the words on to me and my pals and we're talking about adding it to our list. It's a strong and moving song. |
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20 Jun 04 - 08:23 PM (#1211162) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: GUEST,Scabby Douglas (at home) Drumshanty, May is a fine singer, and she mentioned (by email) that she'd been singing it around. I'm glad you like the song. Are you with The Linties? I've written a few songs, and sometimes people have said nice things about some of them, but the reaction to this one has surprised me. I'd be happy for you to make it part of your repertoire. Best Wishes Steven Clark |
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21 Jun 04 - 04:31 AM (#1211282) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Scabby Douglas It's amazing what you find out when you get a little bit of extra information... http://www.dailly-parish.co.uk/localhistory/johnthomson/johnthomson.htm The Rev. John Thomson was not only a contemporary, but also a friend, of Scott's and a gifted painter. The URL given explains how the saying came about. And, given that he was a kenspeckle figure, it seems quite likely that it could have become known and repeated... |
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21 Jun 04 - 05:48 PM (#1211652) Subject: RE: A' Jock Tamsons Bairns: IS this a song? From: Drumshanty Hi Steven. Thanks for that - I'll pass it on to the other Linties, and we'll give it a good go! |