Hash o Benagoak

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

A George Morris composition. This song is typical of the later bothy ballads or ‘cornkisters’ of the early 20th century. Jock first heard the song on a ‘78’ sung by George Morris when it was issued around 1932 when Jock’s family got a loan of a gramophone from a neighbour. A ‘hash’ is a large farm. But the Hash o Benagoak was a mythical fairm toun conjured up by Geordie, inspired no doubt by the Hill of Belnagoak not far away.

Brian McNeill - bouzouki; Pete Shepheard - melodeon; 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.