Grat For Gruel

Tom Spiers: Learnt directly from the singing of Jimmy McBeath who was a frequent guest at the Aberdeen Folksong club in it’s heyday. I have been singing this song, which Jimmy often referred to as The Cruel Weaver, for about 40 years but this is the first time I have recorded it. (Roud 935)

Tom (vocal) with Pete (melodeon and vocal) and Arthur (whistle and vocal)

1: There wis a weaver in the north,
O but he wis cruel,
The very first nicht that he got wad,
He sat an he grat for gruel. [grat=cried
He widna wint his gruel, [wint=do without
He widna wint his gruel,
Aye the very first nicht that he got wad,
He sat an he grat for gruel.

2: “There’s nae a pot in aa the hoose,
I can mak yer gruel in.”
“The washin pot’ll dae wi me,
For I maun hae ma gruel.”
“I winna wint ma gruel,
I canna wint ma gruel,
Aye the washin pot it’ll dae wi me,
For I maun hae ma gruel.”

3: “There’s nae a spoon in aa the hoose,
For ye tae sup yer gruel wi.”
“The gairden spade it’ll dae wi me,
For I maun hae ma gruel.”
“I winna wint ma gruel,
I canna wint ma gruel
Aye the gairden spade it’ll dae wi me,
For I maun hae ma gruel.”

4: Well she’s come ben wi tea an cakes,
Brought them ben on a tool [towel
“Gae awa, gae awa wi yer fal-di-ralls,
For I maun hae ma gruel.”
“I winna wint ma gruel,
I canna wint ma gruel,
Gae awa, gae awa wi yer fal-di-ralls,
For I maun hae ma gruel.”

5: Sae come aa young lassies far e’er ye be,
Niver mairry a weaver,
The very first nicht that he got wad,
He sat an he grat for gruel.
He widna wint his gruel,
He widna wint his gruel,
Aye the very first nicht that he got wad,
He sat an he grat for gruel.