Henry's Songbook

The Gaudie

(or: Gin I Were Whaur the Gaudie rins)

• (Trad / John Imlah)

  Oh gin I were where the gaudie rins
  Where the gaudie rins, gaudie rins
  Gin I were where the gaudie rins
  At the foot o' Bennachie

  I never had but twa richt lads
  Dearly loved me
  The tane was killed at the Lowrin' Fair
  T' other was drooned in the Dee

  Had they geen my love e'en man for man
  Or yet a man tae three
  But they crooded in so thick on him
  He couldnae fecht or flee

  He gie'd tae me the Holland fine
  Our wedding dress tae be
  I gie'd tae him the linen fine
  His winding sheet tae be

  (as sung by Hamish Imlach)

(gaudie - salmon)

Susannes Folksong-Notizen

• [?:] Written by John Imlah from Aberdeenshire, for some years tuner and traveller for Messrs. Broadwood & Sons. Published two volumes of poems and songs. (Songs of Scotland I, p V)

• [1958:] In fact Ord calls this the anthem of Aberdeenshire. It is a strong and powerful ballad which should be sung with a steady, driving beat. Like many others it has suffered at the hands of the "improvers" but, as can be seen, the narrative in its ballad form contains all that is necessary to say. (Norman Buchan, Weekly Scotsman, Oct 16)

• [1961:] In spite of its snappy rhythm it tells a sad story of a lass who was twice married but never a wife. Both husbands met untimely deaths, one by the sword and the other drowned in the Dee. (Robin Gray, notes 'By Mormond Braes')

• [1968:] The tune, known as The Hessians' March, was brought back to Scotland by soldiers serving with Marlborough and at first was an instrumental piece with but a single strain which has since become the chorus. Its first appearance as a song was in 'Lyric Gems of Scotland' (1856). The verses have a literary ring and were presumably written by a local rhymster who realised the potential of the existing tune. The travelling people have many versions which [...] differ widely from that usually published. (Notes 'Back o' Benachie')

• [1976:] Die Melodie dieses Liedes stammt aus Hessen. Hessische Söldner in der britischen Armee hatten sie mitgebracht. In Schottland wurde es eine bekannte Dudelsack- und Geigenmelodie. Mein Urgroßvater, der Reverend John Imlach, machte einen Text dazu. (Ja, ich habe einen presbyterianischen Pastor als Vorfahren!) (Notes Hamish Imlach, 'Scottish Sabbath')

• [1999:] Greig assigns this to about the middle of the 18th century (at the latest). There's plenty of other sets of words written later. The tune is evidently "The Hessian's March", presumably brought to Scotland from the continent (at the time of the Marlborough wars?); but it first appears in 1816. Lowrin or Lowren Fair is "Lawrence Fair", the name of two fairs, one held in Rayne, Aberdeenshire [which is what is meant here] and the other at Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, in mid-August. The arn-tree is the alder. (Murray on Saltspring, www.mudcat.org, 3 Jul)

Link: http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2561&messages=4

• [2000:] "Linsey" [...] is a linen fabric being homespun and woven on a hand loom, "holland" is a finer fabric. (wildlone, http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26001#309487, 1 Oct)
  

• [2000:] http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=27891