Bothy ballad
Encyclopedia
Bothy Ballads are songs sung by farm labourers, specifically in the northeast region of Scotland
.
Bothies
are outbuildings on a big farm, where unmarried farm labourers used to sleep often in harsh conditions. In the evening, to entertain themselves they sang old songs and often composed their own songs. Several Child Ballads which had died out elsewhere in the UK, survived until the 1920s, still sung by working men. It was a men-only environment, and some songs are obscene. They consider ploughmen to be good lovers ("The Plooman Laddies", "My Darling Ploughman Boy").
Although songs of rural delight occur throughout Europe it was in the farmlands around Aberdeen that humorous songs arose, critical of working conditions on farms. The best known is "The Barnyards of Delgaty". Real names of farmers, supervisors and farms are given, and mocked. Other satirical attacks are "Rhynie", "The Guise O Tough" and "Harrowing Time". By contrast "The Bogheid Crew" is a celebration of the fine work done by the labourers, naming each one in turn.
Naturally some songs celebrate the countryside, including "Where The Gadie Rins", "Bonny Udny" and "Arlin's Fine Braes". There are songs in which someone high-born man is matched with a servant. The most famous in "the Knight and the Shepherd' Daughter" (Child Ballad 110), recorded by Steeleye Span
as "Royal Forrester". "The Laird o Dainty Doonby" is another. In 1951 Davie Stewart sang this song for the American collector Alan Lomax
. It is a version of a song printed by David Herd in 1776, in "Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs".
Soldiers from highland regiments sometimes ended up working in bothies. It is therefore not surprising that some songs concern encounters between soldiers and innocent maids. "The Trooper and the Maid" (Child Ballad 299) is one. Most famous of all is "The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie
" (Pretty Peggy-O), recorded by Simon and Garfunkel and many others. "The Forfar Sodger" relates to the Peninsular War
(1808–1856) and was recorded as late as 1951.
In the mid-1960s Grampian Television
produced two series of programs re-enacting the kind of songs that were sung in bothies. It was called "Bothy Nichts". A tragic song might be followed by a joke or a story, then a humorous song. Only rarely would a servant girl be present at these events, and musical instruments would also be rare, but they appeared on the shows, for entertainment value.
We must be grateful to Alan Lomax for interviewing John Strachan (singer)
(1875–1958), Jimmy MacBeath
(1894–1972) and Davie Stewart (1901–1972). Hamish Henderson
recorded bothy songs from Willie Scott (singer) (1897–1989). Bill Leader
recorded Belle Stewart
(1906–1997).
Organisations such as the Traditional Music and Song Association help to maintain the tradition.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Bothies
Bothy
A bothy is a basic shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge. It was also a term for basic accommodation, usually for gardeners or other workers on an estate. Bothies are to be found in remote, mountainous areas of Scotland, northern England, Ireland, and Wales....
are outbuildings on a big farm, where unmarried farm labourers used to sleep often in harsh conditions. In the evening, to entertain themselves they sang old songs and often composed their own songs. Several Child Ballads which had died out elsewhere in the UK, survived until the 1920s, still sung by working men. It was a men-only environment, and some songs are obscene. They consider ploughmen to be good lovers ("The Plooman Laddies", "My Darling Ploughman Boy").
Although songs of rural delight occur throughout Europe it was in the farmlands around Aberdeen that humorous songs arose, critical of working conditions on farms. The best known is "The Barnyards of Delgaty". Real names of farmers, supervisors and farms are given, and mocked. Other satirical attacks are "Rhynie", "The Guise O Tough" and "Harrowing Time". By contrast "The Bogheid Crew" is a celebration of the fine work done by the labourers, naming each one in turn.
Naturally some songs celebrate the countryside, including "Where The Gadie Rins", "Bonny Udny" and "Arlin's Fine Braes". There are songs in which someone high-born man is matched with a servant. The most famous in "the Knight and the Shepherd' Daughter" (Child Ballad 110), recorded by Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
as "Royal Forrester". "The Laird o Dainty Doonby" is another. In 1951 Davie Stewart sang this song for the American collector Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax was an American folklorist and ethnomusicologist. He was one of the great field collectors of folk music of the 20th century, recording thousands of songs in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, the Caribbean, Italy, and Spain.In his later career, Lomax advanced his theories of...
. It is a version of a song printed by David Herd in 1776, in "Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs".
Soldiers from highland regiments sometimes ended up working in bothies. It is therefore not surprising that some songs concern encounters between soldiers and innocent maids. "The Trooper and the Maid" (Child Ballad 299) is one. Most famous of all is "The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie
The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie
The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie is a Scottish folk song about a thwarted romance between a soldier and a girl. Like many folk songs, the authorship is unattributed, there is no strict version of the lyrics, and it is often referred to by its opening line There once was a troop o' Irish dragoons...
" (Pretty Peggy-O), recorded by Simon and Garfunkel and many others. "The Forfar Sodger" relates to the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
(1808–1856) and was recorded as late as 1951.
In the mid-1960s Grampian Television
Grampian Television
Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
produced two series of programs re-enacting the kind of songs that were sung in bothies. It was called "Bothy Nichts". A tragic song might be followed by a joke or a story, then a humorous song. Only rarely would a servant girl be present at these events, and musical instruments would also be rare, but they appeared on the shows, for entertainment value.
We must be grateful to Alan Lomax for interviewing John Strachan (singer)
John Strachan (singer)
John Strachan was a Scottish farmer and singer of Bothy Ballads.John Strachan was born on a farm, Crichie, near St. Katherines in Aberdeenshire. His father had made his fortune by trading in horses, and had rented the farm. From 1886 John attended Robert Gordon's College as a boarder in Aberdeen....
(1875–1958), Jimmy MacBeath
Jimmy MacBeath
Jimmy MacBeath was an itinerant worker and singer of Bothy Ballads from the north east of Scotland. He was a source of traditional songs for singers of the mid 20th century Folk Revival in Great Britain.-Life:...
(1894–1972) and Davie Stewart (1901–1972). Hamish Henderson
Hamish Henderson
Hamish Scott Henderson, was a Scottish poet, songwriter, soldier, and intellectual....
recorded bothy songs from Willie Scott (singer) (1897–1989). Bill Leader
Bill Leader
Bill Leader is an English recording engineer and record producer. He is particularly associated with the British folk music revival of the 1960s and 1970s, producing records by Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Frank Harte and others....
recorded Belle Stewart
Belle Stewart
Belle Stewart became known as a Scottish traditional singer.The general public knew little about Belle Stewart until 2006, when her daughter, Sheila Stewart, wrote the biography Queen Amang the Heather: the Life of Belle Stewart.Sheila Stewart corrects the frequently cited birthdate 17 July to the...
(1906–1997).
Organisations such as the Traditional Music and Song Association help to maintain the tradition.
Discography
- - "Bothy Ballads of Scotland" by Ewan MacColl (1961)
- - "The Five Yokels - Bothy Nichts Volume 1" (c 1966)
- - "The Angus Cronies - Bothy Nichts Volume 2" (c 1966)
- - "Scottish Tradition 1 - Bothy Ballads: Music From the North East" (various artists)
- - "Song From Aberdeenshire" (John Strachan) (2001)
- - "1951 Edinburgh People's Festival Ceilidh" (2006) (various artists)
- - "Go On, Another Song" (Davie Stewart) (c 1970)
- - "Two Gentlemen of the Road" (Jimmy MacBeath and Davie Stewart) (2002)
- - "Wild Rover No More" (Jimmy MacBeath) (1967)
- - "There is a Man Upon a Farm - The Voice of the PeopleThe Voice of the PeopleThe Voice of the People is an anthology of folk songs sung by Traditional singers and musicians of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.There are 511 recordings on 20 CDs, compiled by Dr Reg Hall, a historian at Sussex University...
vol 20" (1998) (various artists) - - "In Freenship's Name" (Gorgeanna McCulloch) (1997)