In days of yore in Scotland, religious fervor would sometimes overtake the populace, ending with great bonfires fueled by fiddles, bagpipes and any other devilish musical instruments. As a consequence, mouth music was born, both to preserve tunes and to provide music for dancing:
Thats how the cabbage was spoiled,
The flour lay at the bottom of the pot,
Thats how the cabbage was spoiled
By the old Lowland men.
Thats how the cabbage was ruined,
This is how the cabbage was ruined,
Thats how the cabbage was ruined
By the French Emperor.
---
The laird of Dunmore is frolicking with Marion
The laird of Dunmore and Marion are frolicking
The laird of Dunmore is frolicking with Marion
But who will frolic with Mary?
---
If I had a shabby old man,
I'd steep him in the stream.
If I had a shabby old man,
I'd steep him in the stream.
If I had a shabby old man,
I'd steep him in the stream,
And if he weren't clean when I took him out,
I'd steep him again.
Id steep him and heave him out,
And steep him in the stream.
I'd steep him and heave him out,
And steep him in the stream.
I'd steep him and heave him out,
And steep him in the stream.
And if he weren't clean when I took him out,
I'd steep him again.
Of course, the Scots Gaelic repertoire is not limited only to waulking songs (songs sung while working tweed - a nasty business) and mouth music. Here's a sort of tongue-in-cheek love song:
Brown-haired lad, I'm fond of you,
I'm really fond of you, boy;
If you're fond of me, I'm fond of you-
Ive loved you since I was young.
I set off as usual
to look for the sheep
but scant attention gave I to them,
knowing my beloved was in the strait.
When I climbed Criongrabhal,
my spirits were low
the ship, with well-trimmed sails,
was out near Saighdeanais.
My parents say that
my foolishness is a source of shame to them
that I could attract a better man than you,
an owner of ships and galleys.
Though I could have a better man than you,
an owner of ships and galleys,
I would much prefer the brown-haired lad
though he hadn't a penny in the world.
Though I promised you Id follow you
and part company from my people,
nothing in the world
could induce me to go to Harris.
I wouldnt survive long if married to you,
while pining for MacDonald.
