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Lyr Req: Gan to the Kye wi' Me

23 Aug 04 - 07:22 AM (#1254366)
Subject: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: Bagpuss

I have tried searching for this song in the DT but couldn't find it. Only came up with a thread about the song, questioning the meaning of kye. I believe it was recorded by the High Level Ranters, and I am hoping it is the same one that I have forgotten! I used to sing it with a choir intertwined with Here's the Tender Comin'.

Anyone know the words?


23 Aug 04 - 07:40 AM (#1254372)
Subject: Lyr Add: GAN TO THE KYE WI' ME
From: GUEST,MCP

Here are the words, I'll put the tune up later when I've a bit more time.

Mick



GAN TO THE KYE WI' ME

Gan to the kye wi' me, my love,
Gan to the kye wi' me;
Over the moor and thro' the grove,
I'll sing ditties to thee:
Cushie, thy pet, is lowing
Around her poor firstling's shed,
Tears in her eyes are flowing,
Because little Colly lies dead.
  Gan to the kye, etc

All the fine herd of cattle
Thy vigilant sire possest,
After his fall in battle
By rebel chieftains were prest:
Kine now is all our property,
Left by thy father's will;
Yet if we nurse it watchfully,
We may win geer enow still.
  Gan to the kye, etc

Source: Songs of Northern England - John Stokoe, 1893


24 Aug 04 - 07:07 PM (#1255728)
Subject: Tune Add: GAN TO THE KYE WI' ME
From: GUEST,MCP

And here's the tune as promised.

Mick



X: 1
T:Gan To The Kye Wi' Me
M:9/8
L:1/8
S:Songs Of Northern England - John Stokoe 1893
K:Dm
A>BA A2 G FED|
w:Gan to the kye wi' me, my love,
A>BA A2 f e3|
w:Gan to the kye wi' me;
A>BA A2 G FED|
w:O-ver the moor and thro' the grove
F2 G Ad^c d2 z|
w:I'll sing dit-ties to thee:
A>BA f2 f ed|
w:Cush-ie, thy pet, is low-ing
^c|A>BA f2 f e3|
w:A-round her poor first-ling's shed,
A>BA f2 f ef|
w:Tears in her eyes are flow-ing,
g|fed Ad^c d3||
w:Be-cause lit-tle Col-ly lies dead.


24 Aug 04 - 09:51 PM (#1255867)
Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: Sorcha

Kee! Yet again! See the previous 2 posts by MCP


25 Aug 04 - 09:56 AM (#1256260)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: Bagpuss

Thanks Mick. I can vaguely remember the tune, but having the dots to refer to will be a great help.


17 Jul 05 - 02:14 AM (#1522738)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: GUEST,michaelbell@michaelbell.demon.co.uk

"Kye" is an older plural for "Cows". In the Bible, there is mention of "kine" = "cows", this is a shorter version of the same word.

Michael Bell


17 Jul 05 - 05:02 AM (#1522780)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: John MacKenzie

Here's another one I found while on the hunt for the words you've been given. When the Kye come Hame
Giok


01 Apr 11 - 01:20 PM (#3126357)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: GUEST

The word kye shows the close, old connection between England and Norway, for in Norwegian the plural of "ku" (cow) is "kyr".
Thanks for the lyrics!


02 Apr 11 - 12:38 AM (#3126705)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: GUEST,leeneia

Mick, thanks for the tune (even if you did post it seven years ago). It's a good melody.


02 Apr 11 - 06:37 AM (#3126818)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan te the Kye wi me
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)

What a curious synchronicity - this is one of the very, very few times I've been on Mudcat since last June (I was checking an obit thread) and there's a mention of me on the very day!

Anyway, you're welcome leeneia!

Mick


19 May 11 - 07:44 PM (#3157268)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan to the Kye wi' Me
From: GUEST,TJ

Hi there,

could someone please tell me what the lyrics mean in this song?

Not trying to be funny here but does "Gan to the kye" mean "Come with me to the cows?

I would like to know line for line if anyone would be so kind.

Cheers
TJ


20 May 11 - 02:08 PM (#3157685)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan to the Kye wi' Me
From: GUEST,leeneia

Well, I can't find the definition of 'geer.' But except for that:

Gan to the kye wi' me, my love,
go to the cows with me, my love

Over the moor and thro' the grove,
I'll sing ditties to thee:
   self-explanatory

Cushie, thy pet, is lowing
Cushie (must be a favorite young cow)is mooing

Around her poor firstling's shed,
around the shed where her firstborn calf is

Tears in her eyes are flowing,
Because little Colly lies dead.
   (Colly must be the name of the calf)


All the fine herd of cattle thy vigilant sire possest,
    all the fine herd of cattle that your vigilant father owned

After his fall in battle By rebel chieftains were prest:
    were taken by rebel chieftains after he died in battle

Kine now is all our property left by thy father's will;
    all your father left us in his will was cattle
   
Yet if we nurse it watchfully,
    yet if we take good care of it (the property)

We may win geer enow still.
    we may acquire 'geer' enough yet.

Gan to the kye, etc
==============
I suspect that 'geer' means income, property, sustenance or something like that.


05 Jun 11 - 02:23 PM (#3165544)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan to the Kye wi' Me
From: GUEST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhyKXVxJ0c4


06 Jun 11 - 09:03 AM (#3165920)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gan to the Kye wi' Me
From: Snuffy

And I smiled as she passed
With her goods and her gear,
And that was the last
That I saw of my dear.