My father was a massive corries fan and when he died last November because of the lockdown business I live in Canada now and couldn’t get back to Scotland for his funeral, so I asked my cousin to write the last lines of the song “ Johnies guid bent bows been broke” etc and had her put it in his coffin for me.
The pandemic has been so cruel to so many families especially when a loved one is passing being so far from home and not able to be with your father would have been hard to deal with but sometimes a song can give you comfort knowing that was there song … god bless to you and your family
Wow,, here's one I've missed up to now. Not only great vocal, but absolutely brilliant combolin arrangement and performance. What a gifted musician Roy was.
Hello there fellow Celtic Brother! Well met and haste ye back tae Celtic lands! 😎🤗 Might I enquire which part of the land of Rus, Mongul, Slav and ithers you hail from? 😊 If you feel comfortable disclosing that publically and it is safe and sensible for you to do so.
What sweet music they make. I will listen to my heart is content. Though I do not think it will ever be satisfied unless I listen every day. Thank you so much for posting this music. Made an awful day so much better than I thought it could be.
You might wish to check out three folk artists I've had the great pleasure of listening to and two whom I've met - Harpeth Rising, Dalahan and Jamie McLochlin.
I'm not sure how I came to find them on YT but thank the day I discovered the Corries! Beautiful song. + 1 fan. As an English lad born and bred with Scottish and Irish Heritage love this, can appreciate the raw power, feelings conveyed.
4 years ago I listened to this beautiful ballad and I commented. Now 4 years later, I still find this stunning. I remember Ewan McCall saying that a ballad such as this requires as much from the audience as from the singers. This is a beautiful telling of a very sad tale. People in the 18th century had very little to eat and there are many songs of poachers who were caught and hanged or transported to the Colonies. Hard times.
Why? Just because you sing a song well doesn't mean you can't talk some nonsense about it. I love the Corries but they do haver in some of their intros.
That is the most beautiful variant on a song I know as "Johnny of Braidosly". I used to sing it at The Northern California Renaissance Faire back in the day. I have forgotten most of it. Same tune. The history of forbidding the poor to hunt int the king's forests on pain of death or sending them to Australia as indentured servants is full of these beautiful and poignant tales.
The buttons that were upon his sleeve Were o' the gowd sae guid And the twa grey hounds that he lay between Their mouths were dyed wi' blood - wi' blood Their mouths were dyed wi' blood Then up and jumps the first forester He was captain o' them a' Sayin "If that be Jock o' Braidislee Unto him we'll draw - we'll draw Unto him we'll draw"
Haven't heard this version for about 20 years my nucle and aunt gave me a tape of it.my uncle like me was born in south africa my aunt who he was married to was born in scotland.
What a great song. Absolutely love the Corries! No one does this music quite like they do. For a different rendition, try the version by the Old Blind Dogs. Now only if I could find a pretty lass tae enjoy this with me... :)
I had only known the Old Blind Dogs version of this until now. Very interesting to stumble upon the Corries version. A few extra lines to explain the story in slightly greater detail, too.
The first shot that the foresters fired It hit Johnny on the knee And the second shot that the foresters fired His heart's blood blint his e'e - his e'e His heart's blood blint his e'e Then up jumps Johnny fae oot o' his sleep And an angry man was he Sayin "Ye micht have woken me fae my sleep Ere my heart's blood blint my e'e - my e'e Ere my heart's blood blint my e'e"
They are called combolins. Wikipedia has a description -- see Roy Williamson, combolins or Corries. David Sinton, who now owns them, also plays them on a couple of youtube videos.
But Johnny has ta'en his guid bend bow His arrows one by one And he's awa' tae the greenwood gane Tae ding the dun deer doon - doon Tae ding the dun deer doon Noo Johnny shot and the dun deer leapt And he wounded her in the side And there between the water and the woods The grey hounds laid her pride - her pride The grey hounds laid her pride
They ate so much o' the venison They drank so much o' the blood That Johnny and his twa grey dugs Fell asleep as though were deid - were deid Fell asleep as though were deid Then by there cam' a silly auld man An ill death may he dee For he's awa' tae Esslemont The seven foresters for tae see - tae see The foresters for tae see As I cam' in by Monymusk Doon among yon scruggs Well there I spied the bonniest youth Lyin' sleepin' atween twa dugs - twa dugs Lyin' sleepin' atween twa dugs
Funny, I can't understand each word either and can't find the lyrics on the internet, but it seems to me as if he sings "Herzblatt" a few times. That's a German word for "darling" ;-)
Part 7 - final. He's broken four o' that one's ribs His airm and his collar bane And he has set him upon his horse Wi' the tidings sent him hame - hame Wi' the tidings sent him hame But Johnny's guid bend bow is broke His twa grey dugs are slain And his body lies in Monymusk His huntin' days are dane - are dane His huntin' days are dane
But he's rested his back against an oak His fit upon a stane And he has fired at the seven o' them He's killed them a' but ane - but ane He's killed them a' but ane He's broken four o' that one's ribs His airm and his collar bane And he has set him upon his horse Wi' the tidings sent him hame - hame Wi' the tidings sent him hame But Johnny's guid bend bow is broke His twa grey dugs are slain And his body lies in Monymusk His huntin' days are dane - are dane His huntin' days are dane
Part 6 Then up jumps Johnny fae oot o' his sleep And an angry man was he Sayin "Ye micht have woken me fae my sleep Ere my heart's blood blint my e'e - my e'e Ere my heart's blood blint my e'e" But he's rested his back against an oak His fit upon a stane And he has fired at the seven o' them He's killed them a' but ane - but ane He's killed them a' but ane
It's a good example of the controlled aggression that has existed in scottish blood throughout the centuries. A trait which was used heavily in the forming of the British empire(though I hate to say that).
@231cats It's also Johnnie o' Cocklesmuir, which is probably the original. It started as a Border ballad but got rewritten for a north-eastern setting, hence the references to Monymusk etc. The older, Border-set versions only survive in fragments, so it's usually the later version that gets sung.
Jock O' Braidislee (Trad) Johnny got up on a May mornin' Called for water to wash his hands Says "Gie loose tae me my twa grey dugs That lie in iron bands - bands That lie in iron bands" Johnny's mother she heard o' this Her hands for dool she wrang Sayin' "Johnny for your venison Tae the greenwood dinnae gang - gang Tae the greenwood dinnae gang"
Part 3 They ate so much o' the venison They drank so much o' the blood That Johnny and his twa grey dugs Fell asleep as though were deid - were deid Fell asleep as though were deid Then by there cam' a silly auld man An ill death may he dee For he's awa' tae Esslemont The seven foresters for tae see - tae see The foresters for tae see
according to "Representative English and Scottish Popular Ballads" there are 13 different versions of this, and they all vary widely about the location. It would take a paragraph to list all the titles. The version I have is Johnie Cock. The forsters are in Pickram Side, Johnie wears Lincoln green to blend in and even wears boots of American leather. His bow was bought in London. The iron bands on the dogs refer to game laws, not actual physical bands.
Jock O' Braidislee [print] (Trad) part 1 Johnny got up on a May mornin' Called for water to wash his hands Says "Gie loose tae me my twa grey dugs That lie in iron bands - bands That lie in iron bands" Johnny's mother she heard o' this Her hands for dool she wrang Sayin' "Johnny for your venison Tae the greenwood dinnae gang - gang Tae the greenwood dinnae gang"
Part 2 But Johnny has ta'en his guid bend bow His arrows one by one And he's awa' tae the greenwood gane Tae ding the dun deer doon - doon Tae ding the dun deer doon Noo Johnny shot and the dun deer leapt And he wounded her in the side And there between the water and the woods The grey hounds laid her pride - her pride The grey hounds laid her pride
Part 5 Then up and jumps the first forester He was captain o' them a' Sayin "If that be Jock o' Braidislee Unto him we'll draw - we'll draw Unto him we'll draw" The first shot that the foresters fired It hit Johnny on the knee And the second shot that the foresters fired His heart's blood blint his e'e - his e'e His heart's blood blint his e'e
"He must have went across the border by accident into England" the song here is set in the north-east of Scotland. Kind of difficult to accidentally cross into England from Monymusk! The idea that everyone could hunt in Scotland is completely wrong anyway.
Can anyone tell me the name of the Corries song that starts with. The lonely heron stands grey and still the silent guardian of the hill his watch is shared ..... Driving me mad can't remember the title. Saw the Corries dozens of times and loved their folk music. Thanks in advance
The song you are thinking about is called "Where two hawks fly". It's about the ancient seat of the Buccleuch family. It is on the Sound the Pibroch album (1972).
I have always loved the Corries but did they have to blame the English for all Scotland's woes. Are we really to believe that Scotland had so few competent foresters that English foresters would be imported to Aberdeenshire especially at a date when we were two separate countries? Where in the ballad does it say they were English?
Don't bother nobody wants to hear it. Also don't remind Scots that the majority of their population is genetically anglo, at least in part anyway. They will shriek if you do...
@@northscot9862 If are not 100% Gaelic genetically then piss off with calling people Saxons as if you aren't mixed like the rest of us. If you are 100% Gaelic genetically then pack your bags and piss off to highlands because the lowlands were Saxon long before you invaders ever got there; also stop speaking English, and enjoying any form of actual individual liberty because those are Saxon in origin.
Just sat here, the morning after the Last Celebration of the Ancient Tradition of the Marking of the Christian Feast of St. Andrew [FYI yesterday was Monday 30th November 2020 CE] of this Second Decade of the 21st Century, with as a 25 year old Scot (1/8th Irish) of Lowland birth in the Year of Our Lord Twenty Twenty in the Common Era (New Style), in Month Nine of the Great novel Covid-19 Pandemic, and I'm singt oot wi rancour voice an muckle herttribbin' in mon cheest. Monie thanks tae Gafin o' Deadhead Comics, ae Auld Reekie, fir bringing me yonder tae thon recording. Tak richt proper care o' yon kin ae here hae bonnie cawin seen and reed wat wir scribbt it aesel! Warmth hearths, safe companies and long life tae yehs. *¡socially distanced and appropriately PPE-equipped hugs for you all from this bi Scottish Unicorn!* 🎶🌈🏴💖🤗🤘🦄🤘🤗💖🏴 🌈🎶 Haste ye back tae noo an this here scribbter thread.
He must have went across the border by accident into England. Because in Scotland was the (Common Land) where every one could hunt deer. Only England had that (Private Hunting Wood) deal where only "One" family could hunt. I think many of the poorer English ran north for a better and more free life!
A quick google search gave nothing to me, other than alternative versions. I would assume that it is a real legend (no reason for Ronnie to lie), but a lot of the Scottish legends are obscure. Another source exists (kinglaoghaireDOTcom/site/lyrics/song_213). It's traditional, so take it with a grain of salt, like all folk stories. Makes for great music, though!
Part 4 As I cam' in by Monymusk Doon among yon scruggs Well there I spied the bonniest youth Lyin' sleepin' atween twa dugs - twa dugs Lyin' sleepin' atween twa dugs The buttons that were upon his sleeve Were o' the gowd sae guid And the twa grey hounds that he lay between Their mouths were dyed wi' blood - wi' blood Their mouths were dyed wi' blood
