Fisher Row traditional, arranged by the
Tannahill Weavers
Newmarket House
by R. S. Burns
Another song from the
fishing community here, this time from the east coast of Scotland near
Edinburgh. The hero is a shellfish digger, probably on mussel beach
(get it?)
Shellfish at one time were considered a great aphrodisiac; it was not
unusual for young couples to eat twelve oysters each on a Saturday night
and complain on Sunday that two didn't work.
Sadly for the couple in this song things do not go according to plan, for
they and their sins are discovered by the church who promptly punishes
them.
The tune at the end of this song is Newmarket House, a hornpipe by R. S.
Burns. Newmarket House was the name given to the officer's mess of
the First Battalion Royal Scots in Benghazi in 1960. |
LYRICS:
As I cam in by Fisher Row Musselburgh lay near me
I threw aff my mussel pyock and coorted wie my dearie
Up stairs doon stairs timmer stairs fear me
I thocht it lang tae lie my lane when I'm sae near ma dearie
Hud yer apron biddin doon the kirk would ne'er hae kent it
Word cam ricklin through the toon alas I canna mend it
Up stairs doon stair timmer stairs fear me
I thocht it lang tae lie my lane when I'm sae near ma dearie
Ye maun maunt the cutty stool and I maun maunt the pillar
That's the way the puir folks dae because the' haw nae sillar
Up stairs doon stairs timmer stairs fear me
I thocht it lang tae lie my lane when I'm sae near ma dearie
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