Gruel

On Springthyme SPRCD 1039
Jock Duncan - Ye Shine Whar Ye Stan!

A favourite comic song about a cantankerous and newly wed weaver whose only desire was to sup his gruel - his porridge of oatmeal. Jock remembers his father humming and singing snatches of the song.

Jock: Ma faither wisna a singer by any means, it's the only een I heard him gaun on wi. But his cousin from ower the hill of Belnagoak, Charlie Duncan, sang it - with his melodeon.

Brian McNeill- bouzouki; Pete Shepheard - melodeon; Gordon Duncan - cauldwind pipes, flute; Chorus vocals

1: Oh there wis a weaver in the north, And oh but he wis cruel, For the very first nicht that he wis wad, He sat an he grat for gruel. He sat an he grat for gruel, Oh he couldna want his gruel, For the very first nicht that he wis wad, He sat an he grat for gruel. 2: "Oh there's nae a speen in aa the house, For tae sup your gruel." "Oh the gairden spad'll dae wi me, For I maun hae ma gruel. For I maun hae ma gruel, Oh I canna want ma gruel; Oh the gairden spad'll dae wi me, For I maun hae ma gruel." 3: "Oh there's nae a dish in aa the hoose, For tae sup your gruel." "Oh the horse's troch'll dae wi me For I maun hae ma gruel. For I maun hae ma gruel, Oh I canna want ma gruel; Och! the horse's troch'll dae wi me For I maun hae ma gruel." 4: She gaed ben the hoose for wine an cakes, And brocht them ben on a stool, "Oh gae wa, gae wa wi yer falderals, [i.e. go away For I maun hae ma gruel. For I maun hae ma gruel, Oh I canna want ma gruel; Oh gae wa, gae wa wi yer falderals, For I maun hae ma gruel." 5: Oh come aa young lassies and listen tae me, An dinna mairry a weaver, The very first nicht that he wis wad, He sat an he grat for gruel. He sat an he grat for gruel, Oh he couldna want his gruel; For the very first nicht that he wis wad, He sat an he grat for gruel. An the very first nicht that he wis wad, He sat an he grat for gruel.