Macfarlan o the Sprotts

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

This is by George Thomson, one time trainee chemist in New Deer who was a prolific composer of songs. He clearly loved to make full use of the local broad Scots vocabulary - the Doric. According to Jock's mother he sometimes tested his songs out on the customers for approval. Jock is sure that most of his songs were lost or given away. The song was included in one of Gavin Greig's weekly Buchan Observer articles in 1910 shortly after it was written (FSNE 145). Jock first heard Macfarlan o the Sprotts on record by Willie Kemp and later heard it sung by him on stage in 1947 in New Deer.

Brian McNeill - guitar, electric bass; Gordon Duncan - low whistle; Chorus vocals

1: Oh it's oh that I be tyraneesed as I this file hae been, I'd raither run fae here tae Birse wi peas in baith ma sheen, I'd raither dee for wint o breath than tae pine for wint o love, An it's aa because Macfarlan mairried Suzie. Noo Suzie's cankered faither and me could never gree, An ilkae time I gaed ower the gate he'd hun his dog at me, [i.e. chase his dog So I sent ma freen Macfarlan doun tae see fit he could dee, Macfarlan o the Sprotts o Birnieboosie. I dinna like Macfarlan, I'm safe eneuch tae state, His lugs wad cast a shadae ower a sax fit gate; He's saft as ony gorblin an sliddery as a skate, [i.e. soft as a nestling Macfarlan o the Sprotts o Birnieboosie. 2: Oh Macfarlan spak nae word for me but plenty for himsel, He reesed the lassie's barley scones, her kebbuck and her kale, [i.e. praised; cheese Her fadder cried out, "Sprottie, ye should try yer luck yersel, Tae Macfarlan o the Sprotts o Birnieboosie." Noo Macfarlan is the grimmest chiel in aa the country roun, They buy his fotygraph tae fleg the rottans fae the toun, [i.e. chase the rats Well he kittled up his spunk at this and spiered gin she'd come doun, [i.e. raised his courage Tae be mistress o the Sprotts o Birnieboosie. Oh I dinna like Macfarlan, I'm safe eneuch tae state, His lugs wad cast a shadae ower a sax fit gate; He's saft as ony gorblin an sliddery as a skate, Macfarlan o the Sprotts o Birnieboosie. 3: He said that he wis able baith tae play at cowp-the-ladle, Sittin on a trykle bow and caw the churn forbye, [i.e. treacle bucket; turn Anither o his winners wis that sawdust mixed wi shunners, [i.e. cinders Wis spice for feedin hens at Birnieboosie. An educated ostrich fae the wilds o Timbuctoo, He hid for scrappin up his neeps and he hidnae them tae pu, Oh ye niver heard the like o that come oot o ony mou, But Macfarlan o the Sprotts o Birnieboosie. Oh I dinna like Macfarlan, it's awfa but it's true, A pewter speen wis tint in Jock Macfarlan's mou, [i.e. was lost He couldna weel be grimmer, sups the brose wi the skimmer, Macfarlan o the Sprotts o Birnieboosie. 4: Oh the dirl o the teethache's nae particularly sweet, [i.e. the pain But love's the only thing on earth that ever gar'd me greet, It's like kittlie chilblains on yer hert instead o on yer feet, [i.e. tickly An it's aggravated wi the sicht o Suzie. Noo freens and kind philosophers ye've heard fat me befell, Never lippen tae the middle man but dae the wark yersel, [i.e. trust in For I've bet my winter sarket, ye're a day ahin the mairket, [i.e. winter shirt Like fan I sent Jock Macfarlan doun tae Suzie. Oh I dinna like Macfarlan, I'm fairly aff o Jock, I dinna like Macfarlan nor Macfarlan's fowk, His Suzie's been nae turtle for a tyangs or the spurkle, [i.e. coal tongs; porridge stick Doun ower the heid o Jock o Birnieboosie.