Burns Night 2018

Robert Burns

Yes, last Friday was our annual Burns Night session. Almost all of the songs sung had a Scottish connection. I won't nit pick over the ones which were tenuous because they were few.

Some even had a Robert Burns connection though Mike informed us that opinion is turning to the position he has long believed, that Burns was more of a collector and editor than a songwriter. Therefore I will not note here the Burns connections of any particular songs, and I'll leave it to the reader to work out which were by him, which were rewritten or augmented by him, and which were simply collected.

First the usual announcement. There was discussion about a theme for this Friday's session. Colin suggested the rugby, and Geoff said he would be marking the anniversary of the death of Buddy Holly. That gave Simon some ideas which he didn't share. So as usual, take these suggestions if you like or come and share something totally different with us. And if you don't wish to perform, it's fine to be an audience too.

Back now to last week. Colin was MC and started the evening off in comedic mood with The Haggis Season (Jeremy Lloyd, Jim Parker).

Derek dug deep and outwith his normal repertoire (Scots usage intended) to come up with something he felt was to theme (no comment from me as already explained). This was Comin' Thro' The Rye (Roud 5512).

Mike sang John Barleycorn (Roud 164), which I feel reasonably safe to say Burns documented as a poem in 1782, though it would seem to be a very English song, so maybe he collected it south of the border.

Simon went back to the Scottish risings for Ye Jacobites By Name (Roud 5517) and Geoff was more modern with Andy Stewart's A Scottish Soldier.

The linked recording of The Bonny Hoose O' Airlie (Roud 794, Child 199), sung by Derek, features the singing of Belle Stewart which leads nicely into a link. Derek also sang a song which I guess to be called Doomsday In The Afternoon. While it wasn't this one by John McCreadie, it was inspired by the same incident (and I suspect  may have been written by Derek himself). The incident occurred when Ewan MacColl interviewed Stewart. He asked how long it would be before there were no travellers and she responded that "there'll always be a traveller until doomsday... in the afternoon".

Simon followed on with Jake Thackray's Isobel Makes Love Upon National Monuments. While not an obvious Scottish song, the intention was to highlight the mention of the Forth Bridge and Balmoral. Yes, it also mentions Hadrian's Wall but that's well within England. However, Derek enquired whether the intended link was with Belle Stewart - because she had denied being the Isobel of the song.

Geoff sang The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre (Roud 2137) and was promptly informed by Derek that it was a Bothy Ballad. I think Geoff was quite taken aback that there was a name for the genre never mind what it actually meant. Derek said he used to sing several such ballads but had all but forgotten them. Typically he pulled two out of the bag, the second of which was My Last Farewell To Stirling (Roud 5160).

Colin reminded Derek of his schooldays, giving him the opportunity to sing along to the choruses of Bonnie Dundee (Walter Scott, Roud 8513) which he hadn't done since then.

It was Derek who closed the evening with The Back O' Bennachie (Roud 5404).

Here's a selection of songs sung during this session.

(Number of people present - 5, of whom 5 performed)