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They Smiled As We Cam In

by Shepheard, Spiers & Watson

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1.
1: Ah tae Glesga toun I gaed ae nicht tae spend a penny fee, [penny fee=wage A bonnie wee lass she gied consent tae bear me company. Chorus: Hooch on linkie doo, linkie doodle day, Hooch on linkie doodle toor aye ae. 2: We wandered through Jamaica Street doun by the Broomielaw, The organ lads played rich and sweet and fiddlers ane or twa. 3: We gaed intae a tavern, I ordered up some gin, And aa the folk aboot the place they smiled as we cam in. 4: We hidnae been in there an hour fan in cam half a score, O sailor lads and quines sae braw we’d never seen afore. 5: I bocht them each a gless o gin, they drank it aff richt free, And ilka ane they drank success tae the bonnie wee lassie and me. 6: The nicht gaed on wi mirth and sang till daylicht did appear, Syne up come their bosun says, “All hands on deck appear.” 7: The sailors took a pairtin gless the lassies said, "Goodbye." The hindmost ane as he gaed oot says, “Jock ye’ve aa tae pey.” 8: Noo they've taen fae me ma watch and chain and they've taen fae me ma knife, It’s a wunner they hanna taen fae me ma wee bit spunk o life. 9: Weel I cam intae this world a bairn, sae nakit and sae bare, And I’ll ging oot the same fae Glesga, I’ll never ging nae mair. 10: So come aa ye jolly plooman lads, a warning tak fae me, Never ging tae Glesgae toun, ye’re better in Lochee. Chorus: Hooch on linkie doo, linkie doodle day, Hooch on linkie doodle toor aye ae.
2.
1: I wis comin fae the fair, fae the fair o Balnafinnan, Fan I spied a bonnie lass, she wis the flooer o the evenin; I’ve asked her far she dwelt, as we strolled along thegither, “On thon bonnie mountain side,” she’s replied, “among the heather.” 2: I will build my love a bower, by thon clear crystal fountain, And cover it aa ower, wi the flooers o the mountain; I’ll range the mountain side, though it be sae dreich and dreary, And bring hame aa my spoils tae the bower o my dearie. 3: I wis comin fae the fair, fae the fair o Balnafinnan, Fan I spied a bonnie lass, she wis the flooer o the evenin; I’ve asked her far she dwelt, as we strolled along thegither, “On thon bonnie mountain side,” she’s replied, “among the heather.”
3.
1: O come aa ye young ploughboys that list tae my tale, As ye sit roond the tables a drinkin your ale; I’ll tak ye aa back tae a far distant day, When I drove the last Clydesdales that worked on Denbrae, When I drove the last Clydesdales that worked on Denbrae. 2: There were twa bonnie blacks, wi white faces and feet, In the hale o the roond, they could never been beat; You’d hae lookit gey far, ’twixt the Forth and the Tay, For tae match thae twa Clydesdales, the pride o Denbrae, For tae match thae twa Clydesdales, the pride o Denbrae. 3: They were matchless in power in the cairt or the ploo, And ma voice and ma hands on the reins they weel knew; There wis never ae thocht in their minds, but obey; Ma twa gallant Clydesdales, the pride o Denbrae, O ma twa gallant Clydesdales, the pride o Denbrae. 4: But the time it wears on and the winters grow cauld, And horses, like men, can dae nocht but grow auld; But I mind on them still, though it were yesterday, When I drove the last Clydesdales that worked on Denbrae, When I drove the last Clydesdales that worked on Denbrae.
4.
1: It’s o a brisk young ploughboy, a-ploughin on his land, Says, “Whoa” untae his horses, and he bids them gently stand. Chorus: And lie ower an I’ll lie tae O, Lie ower an I’ll lie tae; Ma bonnie, bonnie lassie, Lie ower an I’ll lie tae. 2: And he sat doun on his plough there and he began tae sing, His voice wis so melodious, it made the valley ring. 3: And it’s o a bonnie lassie, wis nuttin in the wid, Young Jackie sang sae sweetly that he’s charmed her far she stood. [far=where 4: And it’s fan she heard young Jackie sing, she could no longer stay, [fan=when And what few nuts that poor girl had, she threw them all away. 5: And she gaed up tae young Jackie then, as he sat on his plough, She says, “Young man I feel sae queer, I canna tell ye how.” 6: And young Jackie left his horses and he also left his plough, He’s taen her intae yon green wid, his courage for tae show. 7: And he’s taen her intae yon green wid, it’s there he’s laid her down, She says young man, “I feel sae queer, the world’s gaen walkin roon.” 8: And it’s six months bein over, and nine months were comin on, Young Jackie received a letter that he hid a fine young son. 9: And young Jackie read that letter there, his face wioot a frown, He says, “I’m sure she’ll mind on the day the world gaed walkin roon.” Chorus: And lie ower an I’ll lie tae O, Lie ower an I’ll lie tae; Ma bonnie, bonnie lassie, Lie ower an I’ll lie tae.
5.
1: The Diamond it’s a ship ma lads, for Davis Straits she’s bound, The quay it is aa garnished wi bonnie lassies roon; Captain Gibbon gives command, tae sail the ocean wide, Far the sun it niver sets ma lads, nor darkness dim the sky. [far=where Chorus: Sae be cheerful ma lads and let yer herts niver fail, For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishin for the whale. 2: Alang the quay at Aiberdeen the lassies stan aroon, Their shawls aa pued aboot them, their saut tears rinnin doun; “Dinna greet ma bonnie lassie, though ye’ve been left behind, The rose’ll grow on Greenland’s ice afore I change ma mind.” 3: Best wishes tae the Greenland fleet and aa the whalin trade, And likewise tae the sailor lads fa earn their daily breid; [fa=who They wear the trousers o the white and the jackets o the blue, Fan they get back tae Aiberdeen they’ll find sweetherts a-new. [fan=when 4: Sae jovial it will be the day, fan the Greenland men come hame, Wi ships that’s full o oil ma lads, and money tae their names; They’ll mak the cradle for tae rock and the blankets for tae teer, And ilka lass in Aiberdeen cry, “Hish-a-ba ma dear.” 5: Here’s a health untae the Hercules and anither tae the Jane, A health untae the Bon-accord and the Diamond ship o fame; A health to Captain Gibbon, and aa the Diamond’s crew, A health tae every bonnie lass that’s got a hert that’s true. 6: Here’s a health untae the Hercules and anither tae the Jane, A health untae the Bon-accord and the Diamond ship o fame; A health to Captain Gibbon, and aa the Diamond’s crew, A health tae every bonnie lass that’s got a hert that’s true. Chorus: Sae be cheerful ma lads and let yer herts niver fail, For the bonnie ship the Diamond goes a-fishin for the whale.
6.
1: It was down by yon green bushes by Calder’s clear stream, Where me and my Annie dear had often times been; Where the hours flew past as quite happy were we, And it’s little did my Annie think a sodger I’d be. 2: O fare thee weel Annie for I must away, For the King he needs sodgers and I must obey; But if fortune shines on me and I do return, Then I will walk wi ye my Annie dear by Calder’s clear burn. 3: It was on the eighteenth of August our regiment was lost, When a bullet from the enemy our lines quickly crossed; Caught me on the forehead and the blood come trickling down, I reeled and I staggered and I fell unto the ground. 4: Up then stepped our captain he came up with great speed, “O I fear by yon bullet young Dinsmore lays deid.” Two men with a stretcher they quickly appeared, And they carried me off to a hospital there. 5: They turned me all over my wownds for to see, Cold water and brandy they poured around so free; If I had my Annie dear to wash all my wownds, Then I know that by her sweet kiss she would soon cure the stound. 6: When I am alone and I think on lang syne, When I was a miner and wrocht in the mine; The tears they do trickle and doun they do fa, When I think on the gowans roon bonnie Woodha. 7: Now the fighting is over, the fighting is done, And I will return to my own native home; I will walk with my Annie dear, my Annie by my side, And by the Calder's clear water I'll make her my bride. v5: stound = pain v6: wrocht = worked; gowans = daisies v7: composed/ added by Peter Shepheard
7.
1: There were six and six nobles rade roon Banchory fair, And bonnie Glenlogie wis the flower o them there; There were nine and nine ladies sat in the queen’s dine, Bonnie Jeannie o Bethelnie wis the flower o twice nine. 2: Doun come Jeannie Meldrum she cam tripping doun the stair, And she’s faan in love wi Glenlogie ower aa that wis there; She has turned tae his fitboy that stood by her side, Saying, “Fa is the young man and far does he bide?” 3: “His name is Glenlogie fan he is fae hame, And he’s o the noble Gordons and his name is Lord John.” “Glenlogie, Glenlogie prove constant and kind, For I hae laid my love upon ye and ye’re aye in ma mind.” 4: He has turned him aroon quickly like the Gordons dae aa, He says, “I thank ye Jeannie Meldrum but I’m promised awa.” She has caad for her maiden tae mak up a bed, Wi ribbons aye and napkins tae tie roon her heid. 5: Doun cam Jeannie’s faither and as he cam doun stair, He says, “Fit ails ye Jeannie Meldrum that ye’re lying doun there?” “There is a nice little fellow wi a dark rollin ee, And if I get na Glenlogie then it’s for him I’ll dee.” 6: “O haud yer tongue Jeannie and say nae sic a thing tae me, And I will wad ye tae Drumwhinnle, he has mair gowd and fee.” “O haud yer tongue faither and let yer Jeannie be, For if I get na Glenlogie then it’s for him I’ll dee.” 7: Her faither he had a chaplain and a man o great skill, And he’s penned a braid letter and indited it weel; Fan Glenlogie saw the letter a licht lauch gaed he, But fin Glenlogie read the letter then a tear blint his ee. 8: “Noo gae saddle tae me the black horse, gae saddle tae me the broon, Bonnie Jeannie o Bethelnie will be deid e’er I win.” Fan his horses were saddled and led tae the green, It’s bonnie Glenlogie had gaen three miles his leen. 9: Noo pale and wan wis she fan Glenlogie cam ben, Aye and reid and rosie grew she fan she saw it was him; “Lie ower Jeannie Meldrum, lie tae yer richt side, And I will play the bridegroom love if you will play the bride.” 10: Bonnie Jeannie she wis married and her tocher doun tauld, Bonnie Jeannie o Bethelnie wis bit sixteen years auld; Bethelnie, Bethelnie ye shine far ye stand, And aa the heather bells that’s aroond ye shine ower Fyvie’s land. v2: fitboy = footman v6: fee = income v8: win in = arrive; his leen = alone v18: tocher doun tauld = dowry counted out
8.
1: There wis a weaver in the north, O but he wis cruel, The very first nicht that he got wad, He sat an he grat for gruel. [grat=cried He widna wint his gruel, [wint=do without He widna wint his gruel, Aye the very first nicht that he got wad, He sat an he grat for gruel. 2: “There’s nae a pot in aa the hoose, I can mak yer gruel in.” “The washin pot’ll dae wi me, For I maun hae ma gruel.” “I winna wint ma gruel, I canna wint ma gruel, Aye the washin pot it’ll dae wi me, For I maun hae ma gruel.” 3: “There’s nae a spoon in aa the hoose, For ye tae sup yer gruel wi.” “The gairden spade it’ll dae wi me, For I maun hae ma gruel.” “I winna wint ma gruel, I canna wint ma gruel Aye the gairden spade it’ll dae wi me, For I maun hae ma gruel.” 4: Well she’s come ben wi tea an cakes, Brought them ben on a tool [towel “Gae awa, gae awa wi yer fal-di-ralls, For I maun hae ma gruel.” “I winna wint ma gruel, I canna wint ma gruel, Gae awa, gae awa wi yer fal-di-ralls, For I maun hae ma gruel.” 5: Sae come aa young lassies far e’er ye be, Niver mairry a weaver, The very first nicht that he got wad, He sat an he grat for gruel. He widna wint his gruel, He widna wint his gruel, Aye the very first nicht that he got wad, He sat an he grat for gruel.
9.
1: Come aa ye men and fair young lads, come aa ye sports beware, As ye go steamboat sailing, old dungaree jackets wear; And aaways wear a life belt, or keep it close at hand, For there blows a cold nor-westerly wind on the Banks of Newfoundland. 2: ’Twas in the year of nineteen-six that we did suffer sore, We had on board some fair young lads, some Swedies and some more; We pawned our clothes in Liverpool, we pawned them every hand, Never thinking of the nor-westerly winds on the Banks of Newfoundland. 3: And we had on board a fair young maid, Bridget Wellford was her name, To her I promised marriage on me she had a claim; She tore her flannel petticoats to make mittens for my hands, For she could not see her true love perish on the Banks of Newfoundland. 4: One night as I lay sleeping I had a sad old dream, I dreamt I was back in Scotland beside a flowing stream; And by my side a fair young maid and a bottle in my hand, But I woke up broken hearted on the Banks of Newfoundland. 5: And now we’re off for Sandy Bay where the high hills covered in snow, Our steam boat she’s so hell-of-a fast, by New York we will go; We’ll rub her up and we’ll scrub her down with holystone and sand, And we’ll bid farewell to the Virgin Rocks and the Banks of Newfoundland. We’ll rub her up and we’ll scrub her down with holystone and sand, And we’ll bid farewell to the Virgin Rocks and the Banks of Newfoundland. v5: holystone = sandstone block for polishing the deck
10.
1: Atween Stanehive and Laurencekirk it’s there I did agree, Wi a wealthy fairmer, his foreman for tae be; Tae drive his twa best horses and tae cairt or herrie or ploo, And tae dee aathing about fairm work that richt weel I could do. 2: I worked ma horses carefully and I did ma maister please, Excepting for some rants o fun which did his temper tease; But in the month o January as you may well believe, It’s for coortin wi the serving girlie we baith did get wir leave. 3: Ae nicht in tae the stable on a tryst I met her there, Expecting for tae get some fun or guid advice tae gie her; But the maister he got word o this and quickly he cam ower, And it’s there he’s gien us baith wir leave just at the stable door. 4: But it’s nae on the maister o that toun that I lay aa the blame, But on the maiden o that place, that high respected dame; It’s on the maiden o that place, nae lads come her tae see, And she could nae stand tae see sic fun atween ma girlie and me. 5: So come aa ye jolly plooman lads and try tae mend the faut, Be sure it’s wi the maiden first that ye maun court and daut; And dinnae coort the serving girlies and let the maiden bye, Or ye may be sure and very sure yer term will seen be nigh. 6: It is a maist disgraceful thing when coortin’s caad a crime, It his been practiced in the world, Guid only kens the time; But in the toun abeen the road it is forbidden there, So when coorting wi the servant girlies, I bid yees aa beware. v1: herrie or ploo = harrow or plough v4: toun = farm v5: faut = fault v5: court and daut = play, fondle; seen = soon v6: caad = called; abeen = above
11.
Rhynie 02:17
1: At Rhynie I sheared my first hairst, [harvest Near tae the fit o Bennachie; [foot And ma maister wis richt ill tae sit, [hard to suit But laith wis I tae lose ma fee. [loath Chorus: Linten addie tooran addie, Linten addie tooran ae O; Linten addie tooran addie, Linten addie tooran ae. 2: Noo Rhynie’s wark it’s ill tae wark, [hard to work An Rhynie’s wages are but sma; Aye, an Rhynie’s laws they’re double stric, [strict An that’s fit grieves me maist of aa. [fit=what 3: Well Rhynie it’s a cauld clay hole, It’s naethin like ma faither’s toun; [farm Aye, an Rhynie’s sic a hungry place. It disnae suit a lowland loon. [lad 4: Noo I hae wrocht and I hae focht, [worked,fought An I hae won ma penny fee; Aye, I an I’ll ging back the gate I cam, [gate=way An a better bairnie I will be. [child Chorus: Linten addie tooran addie, Linten addie tooran ae O; Linten addie tooran addie, Linten addie tooran ae.
12.
1: As I roved out one fine summer’s morning, Doun by the banks o sweet Kelvinhaugh; It was there I spied a wee bleacher lassie, She had cheeks like the roses, her skin like snaw. 2: Says I, “Ma lassie, where are ye going, And what ye do I would like to know.” “Kind sir,” she answered, “I am but a bleacher, Fae Cochrane’s bleach fields near Kelvinhaugh.” 3: “O lassie, lassie, I’ve gold and silver, And I would buy you silks sae braw.” “O no kind sir, it’s the truth I tell you, For I have a sweetheart and he’s far awa.” 4: “For it’s seven lang years since he’s gaed and left me, And seven more I would wait on him; O no kind sir, I would raither tarry, And bleach ma claes here on sweet Kelvinhaugh.” 5: “O lassie, lassie ye are hard hearted, But such a fair face I never saw; For ma heart’s aye breakin, baith night and mornin, For the bleacher lassie fae Kelvinhaugh.” 6: “Dae ye see thon ships sailing doun the ocean? Dae ye see them sailing doun the Broomielaw? O lassie, lassie dae ye no remember, The day we pairted on sweet Kelvinhaugh.” 7: “O laddie, laddie I weel remember, The day we pairted on sweet Kelvinhaugh; Aa the sailor laddies, they aa got tipsy, Wi the bleacher lassie fae Kelvinhaugh.” 8: It’s noo this couple they hae got mairried, They keep an alehoose atween them twa; And aa the sailor laddies, they aa go drinkin, Wi the bleacher lassie fae Kelvinhaugh.
13.
1: I saw my ain bonnie love tae the kirk go, Wi rings on her fingers she made a fine show; And I follaed on aifter wi my hert fu o woe, She’s gaen tae be wad tae anither. 2: And I saw my ain bonnie love sit doun tae dine, I sat doun aside her and I poured oot the wine; And I drank tae the lassie that should hae bin mine, But it wisnae ma lot for tae get her. 3: And the ladies and gentlemen askit o me, Foo mony strawberries grow in the saut sea; And I gaed them ane back, aye wi a tear in ma ee, Foo mony fish sweem in the forest. 4: She has broken my hert and gaed far, far fae me, She’s broken my hert and gaed far noo fae me; But it wis not once nor twice that she has lain doun wi me, She’s only ma auld sheen, ye’ve got her. 5: And she’s only my auld sheen, only my auld sheen, She’s broken ma hert and awa she has gaen; She has gaen far awa, far awa she has gaen, She’s only ma auld sheen noo and ye’ve got her.
14.
1: There wis a lady in the north, I ne’er could find her marrow, [her equal She wis courted by nine gentlemen, And a plooboy lad fae Yarrow. 2: These nine sat drinking at the wine, Sat drinking wine in Yarrow; And they’ve made a vow amang them aa, Tae fecht for her on Yarrow. [fight 3: She’s washed his face an kaimed his hair, As aft she’s deen afore O; An she’s made him like a knight sae braw, [fine Tae fecht for her on Yarrow. 4: She’s washed his face an kaimed his hair, As aft she’s deen afore O; An she’s made him like a knight sae braw, [fine Tae fecht for her on Yarrow. 5: Then he’s gaed up thon high, high hills, In tae the houms o Yarrow; [dark valley And it’s there he saw nine airmed men, Come tae fecht wi him on Yarrow. 6: It’s three he slew and three they flew, And three he’s wounded sairly; But her brither John he’s come in ahin, And he’s murdered him maist foully. 7: “Ah faither dear, I’ve dreamt a dream, A dream o dule an sorrow; [dule=grief I dreamt I wis puin heather bells, On the dowie dens o Yarrow.” 8: “Ah dochter dear, I’ve read your dream, I doot it will bring sorrow; For your ain true love he lies pale and wan, On the dowie dens o Yarrow.” 9: Well she’s gaed up thon high, high hills, Intae the houms o Yarrow; And it’s there she saw her ain true love, Lying pale an wan on Yarrow. 10: Her hair it wis three-quarters lang, The colour it wis yellow; An she’s tied it roon his middle sma, An she’s bore him doun fae Yarrow. 11: “Ah faither dear, ye’ve seiven sons, Ye may wad them aa the morrow; But the fairest flooer amang them aa, Wis the plooboy lad fae Yarrow.”
15.
1: John Blair and I hae taen the notion, Tae cross the wide Atlantic ocean; Rab MacKinlay’s gaen afore us, He will keep us aa in order. Chorus: Hame fareweel, freens fareweel, And ye boys o Callieburn, fare ye weel. 2: We leave the land of our forefathers, Knowing not what may befall us; America, ’twas thee that wiled us, For tae leave oor agèd parents. 3: We leave the land where we were born, Oor parents standing all forlorn; This is a song of oor own composing, Comrades dear, come join the chorus. 4: Machrihanish, bright and bonnie, It’s o’er thy beach the waves are rolling; Machrihanish I adore thee, Never more shall I be o’er thee. 5: Callieburn I’ll mind thee ever, From your lands I now must sever; May thy people dwell in thee for ever, But may they gain a greater favour. 6: Now in America we have arrivèd, And of oor freends we are deprivèd; We leave them aa behind us sighing, Maybe yet we’ll meet in Zion. 7: John Blair and I hae taen the notion, Tae cross the wide Atlantic ocean; This is a song of oor own composing, Comrades dear come join the chorus. Chorus: Hame fareweel, freens fareweel, And ye boys o Callieburn, fare ye weel; Hame fareweel, freens fareweel, And ye boys o Callieburn, fare ye weel.

about

Simple, powerful and effective fiddle, whistle and melodeon underscore three big voices as Pete, Tom and Arthur revel in a colourful, broad sweep of traditional Scots and English song learned in many cases direct from the traditional singers they have known in the last decades.

All three are enthusiasts for traditional song. Here they include songs of the sea such as Bonnie Ship the Diamond and the Banks of Newfoundland, songs from the land such as Rhynie and the uproarious title song Jock Hawk’s Adventures.

Pete, Tom and Arthur have known each other for many years and, after enjoying each others company at sessions, festivals, hogmanay and suchlike seasonal gatherings, they began to gain bookings together and formalised this as Shepheard, Spiers & Watson in 2003 for an appearance at the great Whitby Festival and they were nominated in the ScotsTrad Music Awards as Scottish Folk Band of the Year in 2006. They issued a second CD Over the High Hills in 2012.

credits

released February 17, 2018

Recorded by Tom Spiers. Song transcriptions by Peter Shepheard. Notes by Shepheard, Spiers & Watson.
Cover photograph by kind permission of
The Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums Collection.
Group photograph by Colin Ruscoe
Design by Arthur Watson and Andy Rice/NotJustDesign

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