I need some help with the words to Rattlin‘ Roarin’ Willie. I have a CD of this but I can’t understand everything. I’m fairly certain Willie didn’t “go to the fair to sell his fiddle and buy some underwear” (however my jr high students would love it if this were the case!). Thank you.
Check out this site:
http://www.dickalba.demon.co.uk/songs/texts/rrwillie.html
“ither wares” = other wares I think.
Sorry to spoil your students fun!
PS just checked out that website; I didn’t know the song was by Robert Burns. I’m way meeting my teaching assessment goals at school now. Thak you very much!
The first two verses are traditional, Burns added the third verse as a tribute to William Dunbar. Dunbar being the Colonel of the Crochallan Fencibles, an Edinburgh convivial club of which Burns was a member.
“…buy some underwear” 🙂 🙂 🙂 Love it !! Thanks dmarie - you’ve cheered me up no end, just before I go to the dentist !
Better yet, …buy some underwear from a Fencible. Are we dealing in stolen undergoods?
As in John Masefield’s immortal lines: I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky / I left my vest and pants there, and I wonder if they’re dry…
Cue Thread for Misheard Lyrics, starting with “Gladly, the cross-eyed Bear…” I’m sure there was one here a minute ago…
Just to lower the tone a bit……. apologies for doing so, of course no-one on this website behaves in such a manner, but..
There is the theory that “Rattlin‘ Roarin’ Willie” was more a description of “Oor Rabbie’s” behaviour with the fairer sex, rather than flogging his fiddle for a drink…..
Some people think that’s what he died of….
[ Roy Gullane, “Tannahill Weavers” ].
Yip, Kenny - I’m sure it was a Tannies gig where I heard it.
Oh,my--Willie’s reputation has headed southward since yesterday. Hmmm, not such a good role model for impressionable young minds. Oh, well--I’m going to teach it anyway, I like the tune. Maybe I should just use the underwear lyrics. (I hope my superintendent isn’t a secret member of The Session.)
Ah Go on dmarie! I’m sure they’d love to hear that story - although, their parents might not be quite so impressed! 😉
I’ve always wondered what “A cannily keekit ben” means.
“I’ve always wondered what ”A cannily keekit ben“ means.”
I’d understand that to be:
I cautiously/carefully looked in.
That’s about what I’ve guessed, but just from the context.
Well, in one of his own songs RB had a neighbor lady at his birth predict he’d “gar the lassies lie aspar” --- so I think the Tannies’ speculation is not without merit! 😉
I wonder how many people understood that? Of course he did “gar the lassies lie aspar” too, lots of times! Which reminds me of the first time I heard “The Steggie song” on Radio Scotland, sung by Rod Paterson - I was very surprised it was broadcast - the powers that be obviously didn’t understand the lyrics (although the programme presenter did)!
James Hunter has a two part version of the tune in his collection.
Got these from
https: //www. youtube. com/watch?v=WKRu2LJPKmA
under, show more
O, rattlin‘ roarin’ Willie, o, he held to the fair
An‘ for to sell his fiddle an’ buy some other ware
But parting wi‘ his fiddle, the saut tear blin’t his e’e ( I thought it was, ‘a saw to fiddle has he’)
And rattlin‘ roarin’ Willie, ye’re welcome hame to me. ( I thought twas ‘no friend to me is he’)
O, Willie, come sell your fiddle, o sell your fiddle sae fine
O, Willie, come sell your fiddle, and buy a pint o’ wine
If I should sell my fiddle, the warl’ would think I was mad
For many a rantin’ day, my fiddle and I hae had.
As I cam’ by Crochallan ( where or what this is ?), (I cannily keekit ben ( I thought, piqued been - as upset, cause he fiddles a saw. )
Rattlin‘ roarin’ Willie was sitting at yon bordan ( an bord = ir. table, as in ‘room and board’ ) Sitting at yon boord-en, and amang guid companie
Rattlin‘ roarin’ Willie, ye’re welcome hame to me.