TOW#12: Wi My Dog and Gun

[nigelgatherer]

A song this week from Silly Wizard.



2. I said “Fair maid, do you know I love you?
Tell me your name and your dwelling also?”
“Oh, excuse my name, but you’ll find my dwelling
By the mountain streams where the moorcocks crow.”

3. I said “Fair maid, if you wed a fermer,
You’ll be tied for life tae one plot of land.
I’m a rovin’ Johnny, if you gang wi’ me,
You will have no ties, so gi’ me your hand.”

4. “Ah, but if my parents knew I loved a rover,
It is that I’m sure would be my overthrow,
So I’ll stay at home for another season
By the mountain streams where the moorcocks crow.”

5. “So it’s fare thee well, love; another season
We will meet again in yon woodland vale,
And I’ll set you down all upon my knee, love,
And I’ll listen to your lovesick tale.

6. “And it’s erm in erm we will go thegether
Through the lofty trees, in the valley below,
Where the linties sing their song sae sweetly
By the mountain streams where the moorcocks crow.”

• PDF with Standard Notation and Chords
• PDF with Standard Notation and Mandolin Tablature
  

[nigelgatherer]

YouTube video

Listening to this track fairly took me back. I remember in the mid-1970s I went to loads of folkie things at the Edinburgh Festival, one of them being Silly Wizard in concert - magic! The YouTube video isn't of SW in concert, worst luck, but it gives an opportuinity to listen to the track if you haven't got it.

[Trish Santer]

It's in "The Andy M Stewart Collection" - published 1998 - ISBN 0-8256-9420-5. I was lucky enough to get a copy when he appeared at Innerleithen Festival a few years back, and also saw him at Celtic Connections back in January.
He has it in C, so chords are C Am G F Em, and a G7 just before the final C. He says he repeats the first 2 verses on the album (it's on "So Many Partings").
One of my favourites, only recently discovered when I heard English singer Johnny Coppin do it, is "Donegal Rain" (A Burnsian range to sing though!)

[nigelgatherer]

How close to the chords in the book was I, Trish? Just interested.

The whole Donegal Rain album is superb, in my opinion. Must dig it out again...

[Trish Santer]

Spot on (allowing for transposition) up to half-way through: thereafter some variation: I tried to type it all out but the formatting got lost in posting it! I'll try another way: chord appears before word where it changes, and using your key!

(G)I met a (F#m)maid (G)she was tall and (F#m)slen (D) der
(Bm)Her (G) eyes en -(F#m)ticed (G) me some time (A7) to (D)stay

[Jimb3893]

Anyone know what the word linty means? Or is it lenty or lilty? I've seen lyrics with any of the three.

[Brian McClory]

(26-10-2010 04:37 PM)Jimb3893 Wrote:  Anyone know what the word linty means? Or is it lenty or lilty? I've seen lyrics with any of the three.

A linty is a songbird. Not sure which one though - a thrush or a blackbird perhaps?

[nigelgatherer]

A lintie is a linnet. The other words are simply attempts at phonetic translation and, therefore, wrong. :-)

[Jimb3893]

Thanks fellas. In the finch family. We have finches here but not that particular one.
I was able to find information about the "moor cock". Some sort of grouse or ptarmigan.

[Tosh Marshall]

Tried several times to upload this yesterday with no success, but have managed to do so this morning! Have no idea how close I am to it but it's my attempt at it. It's a toughie...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJCMcNZ4O3I