We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Guise O’ Tough

from Bring out the Banners by Paul 'Bolshie' Brown

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

      $1 NZD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

  • USB Flash Drive

    Full album including word and PDF version of album notes and three bonus videos
    ships out within 2 days

      $20 NZD or more 

     

about

This is a sardonic rather than a protesting song and I always think that Willie (Poet) Clarke must have had a quirky sense of humour.
It is typical of many of the bothy ballads: discussing the lot of the farm servants, praising the horses and gently taking the mickey out of all on the farm.
For more on bothy ballads see:
www.scotslanguage.com/Scots_Song_uid65/Types_of_Scots_Song/Bothy_Ballads_uid3315
www.nefa.net/archive/songmusicdance/bothy/index.htm

lyrics

I gaed up tae Alford,
for tae get a fee
Twas there i met wi Jamie Broon
an' wi' him I did agree
Chorus
Dum, a hi dum do, a hi dum day
Hi dum a diddle dum, a hi dum day
I engaged wi' Jamie Broon
in the year o' ninety wan
Tae gang an' ca' his second pair
an' be his orra man
When I gaed hame tae Guie a Tough
was on an evening clear
Frae oot aboot some orra hoose
the gaffer did appear
I'm the maister o' the place
an' that's the mistress there
An' if ye want some bried and cheese
ye'll surely get ye're share
I sat an ate at cheese an' bried
till they did roon me stare
And then I thocht that it was time
tae gang an' see ma pair
I gaed tae the stable
my pairie for tae view
An' fegs they were a dandy pair,
a chestnut and a blue.
Then early next mornin'
I gaed tae the ploo'
But lang, lang or lowsin' time
my pairie gart me rue.
My ploo' she wisnae workin' weel,
she widna thraw the fur
The gaffer says "There's a better ane
at the smiddy tae gang for"
When I got hame the new ploo'
she pleased me unco weel
But I thocht she wid dae better gin
she had a cuttin' wheel.
We hae a gallant baillie, Wallace is his name,
He can fair redd up the kye when he taks doon a kame.
We hae a little baillie
and Jamieson's his name
And he's gane doon tae Alford
an' raised an awfy fame.
He's gane doun tae Charlie Watt's for tae hae a dram,
Lang, lang e'er I gaed doon the laddie couldnae stan.
I wrocht awa' a month or twa wi' unco little clatter
Till I played up some nasty tricks and broke the tattie chapper.
The gaffer he got word o' this and orders did lay doon
That if I did the like again he wad pit me frae the toon.
Noo my song is ended and I’ll no sing oney more
An' if ye be offended ye can walk ootside the door.

credits

from Bring out the Banners, released March 11, 2019
Willie (Poet) Clarke |Arranged – Paul Brown | Vocals – Paul Brown, Jean Reid and Ian Bartlett

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Paul 'Bolshie' Brown Auckland, New Zealand

contact / help

Contact Paul 'Bolshie' Brown

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Paul 'Bolshie' Brown, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now