Caller Oú!
National Library – George 4th Bridge
Sunday November 1st 2015
Performance 3pm – 4pm (practice 2 pm)
Please wear blue
Contents
Caller Oú (John Grey) .......................................................................... 2
Caller Herrin ........................................................................................ 3
The Boatie Rows (by John Ewen) ........................................................ 4
Molly Malone ...................................................................................... 5
The Herrin’s Heid ................................................................................ 6
It’s a Long Way to Tipperary (Jack Judge) ........................................... 7
Minnie o Shirva’s Cradle Sang............................................................. 8
Big Steamers (Rudyard Kipling)........................................................... 9
Song of the Fishgutters ..................................................................... 10
Wild Mountain Thyme (Traditional) ................................................. 11
Page 1
(After “What is a Bow Tow”)
Caller Oú (John Grey)1
When winter winds howl and the sea rolling high
Our boatmen sae brave, all dangers defy
Their last haul on board, they steer for the shore
Their live cargo landed is soon at our door
Caller ou, caller ou, caller ou
Frae the Forth, caller ou, caller ou
At nicht roon the ingle sae canty are we
The Owster lass brings her treat frae the sea
Wi' music and sang as time passes by
We hear in the distance the creel lassies cry
Caller ou, caller ou, caller ou
Frae the Forth, caller ou, caller ou
Sae here's tae the boatman, at hame and awa'
At kirk and at fair there's nane gaes sae braw
And weel be their dames sae blythesome and fair
Their voices in evening is music tae hear
Caller ou, caller ou, caller ou
Frae the Forth, caller ou, caller ou
1
Start Note - C
Page 2
(After “Black Friday” section)
Caller Herrin’2
When ye were sleepin on your pillows,
Dream'd ye aught o our puir fellows,
Darkling as they faced the billows,
Aa to fill the woven willows!
Buy my caller herrin
They're bonnie fish and halesome farin,
Buy my caller herrin,
New drawn frae the Forth.
O when the creel o herrin passes
Ladies clad in silk and laces,
Gather in their braw pelisses,
Cast their heids and screw their faces.
Buy my caller herrin
They're bonnie fish and halesome farin,
Buy my caller herrin,
New drawn frae the Forth.
O neighbour wives now tent my tellin,
When the bonnie fish ye're sellin,
At a word aye be your dealin,
Truth will stand when a' thing's failin.
Buy my caller herrin,
They're nae brought here without brave darin,
Buy my caller herrin,
Ye little ken their worth:
Buy my caller herrin.
O ye may ca' them vulgar farin
Wives and mithers maist despairin,
Ca them lives o men
2
Key “D”, Start Note “D”
Page 3
(After “Anne Street Post” section)
The Boatie Rows (by John Ewen)3
Weel may the boatie row
An muckle may she speed
Weel may the boatie row
That wins oor bairnies' breid
The boatie rows, the boatie rows, The boatie rows fu weel,
An’ muckle luck maintain the boat, The murlin an the creel
We dropped oor lines in Largo Bay
An fishes we got nine,
There's three t' bile an three t' fry,
An three t' bait the line
The boatie rows, the boatie rows, The boatie rows fu weel,
An’ muckle luck maintain the boat, The murlin an the creel
When Sandy, Jock and Janetie
Are up an gotten lear
They'll help t' gar the boatie row
An lighten a’ oor cares
The boatie rows, the boatie rows, The boatie rows fu weel,
An’ muckle luck maintain the boat, The murlin an the creel
Oh weel may the boatie row
That fills a heavy creel
An helps t' clad oor bairns an’ aa
An buys oor porridge meal
The boatie rows, the boatie rows, The boatie rows fu weel,
An’ muckle luck maintain the boat, The murlin an the creel
And when wi’ age we’re sair worn doon,
And hirplin’ roond the door,
They’ll row to keep us dry and warm,
As we did them before.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows, The boatie rows fu’ weel
And muckle lichter is the load, When love bears up the creel
3
Key “A”, Start Note “E”
Page 4
(After “Mussel Annie” story)
Molly Malone4
In Dublin's fair city, where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive a-live O!
A-live a-live O! A-live a-live O!
Crying cockles and mussels alive a-live O!
She was a fishmonger and sure t’ was no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they wheeled their wheelbarrows
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive a-live O!
A-live a-live O! A-live a-live O!
Crying cockles and mussels alive a-live O!
She died of a fever and no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
Now her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive a-live O!
A-live a-live O! A-live a-live O!
Crying cockles and mussels alive a-live O!
A-live a-live O! A-live a-live O!
Crying cockles and mussels alive a-live O!
4
Key “D”, Start Note “D”
Page 5
(After “317,000 Barrels” story)
The Herrin’s Heid
Fit’ll we dae wi the herrins’ heids?
Fit’ll we dae wi the herrins’ heids?
Mak them inta loaves o bried
Herrins’ heids, loaves o bried,
An a sorts a things
Of a the fish that swim in the sea, the herrin is the fish for me
Sing fala la ly doe, fala la ly doe, fala la ly doe ly day
Fit’ll we dae wi the herrins’ eyes?
Fit’ll we dae wi the herrins’ eyes?
Mak them inta puddins an pies
Herrins’ eyes, puddins an pies,
Herrins’ heids, loaves o bried,
An a sorts a things
Of a the fish that swim in the sea, the herrin is the fish for me
Sing fala la ly doe, fala la ly doe, fala la ly doe ly day
Fit’ll we dae wi the
Herrin’s fins
Herrrin’s belly
Herrin’s back
Herrin’s tail
……
……
……
……
needles an pins
lassie ca’ed Nelly
laddie ca’ed Jack
ship wi a sail
Page 6
(After “Women of Newhaven say goodbye to the men” story)
It’s a Long Way to Tipperary (Jack Judge)
(Harmonica only for first verse)
(Women only for Chorus)
It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary, To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart lies there.
(Men only for last verse)
That's the wrong way to tickle Mary,
That's the wrong way to kiss!
Don't you know that over here, lad,
They like it best like this!
Hooray pour le Francais!
Farewell, Angleterre!
We didn't know the way to tickle Mary,
But we learned how, over there!
Page 7
(After “Industrial School” story)
Minnie o Shirva’s Cradle Sang5
Da boatie sails an da boatie rowes,
Dey set dir sails an dey hail dir towes,
Hush-a-baa-baa, ma peerie lamb,
De faider is comin awa fae fram.
Da sheep dey baa, an da craas dey craa,
Dey flap dir wings an dey flee awa,
Hush-a-baa-baa, ma peerie flee,
Aald Daa’ll be comin wi shalls ta dee.
Da burnie rins an da burnie rowes
Da lambs dey dance ower da hedder-knowes,
Hush-a-baa-baa, ma treasure dear,
Dey’ll naebody hurt thee whin Mam is near.
(Repeat first Verse as round)
5
Key “F”, Starting Note “C”
Page 8
(After “Watching for Elephants” story)
Big Steamers (Rudyard Kipling)6
Oh, where are you going to, all you Big Steamers,
With Britain’s own coal, up and down the salt seas?
We are going to fetch you your bread and your butter,
Your beef, pork, and mutton, eggs, apples, and cheese.
And where will you fetch it from, all you Big Steamers,
And where shall I write you when you are away?
We fetch it from Melbourne, Quebec, and Vancouver,
Address us at Hobart, Hong-Kong, and Bombay.
But if anything happened to all you Big Steamers,
And suppose you were wrecked up and down the salt sea?
Then you'd have no coffee or bacon for breakfast,
And you'd have no muffins or toast for your tea.
Then I'll pray for fine weather for all you Big Steamers
For little blue billows and breezes so soft.
Oh, billows and breezes don't bother Big Steamers:
We're iron below and steel-rigging aloft.
Then I'll build a new lighthouse for all you Big Steamers,
With plenty wise pilots to pilot you through.
Oh, the Channel's as bright as a ball-room already,
And pilots are thicker than pilchards at Looe.
Then what can I do for you, all you Big Steamers,
Oh, what can I do for your comfort and good?
Send out your big warships to watch your big waters,
That no one may stop us from bringing you food.
For the bread that you eat and the biscuits you nibble,
The sweets that you suck and the joints that you carve,
They are brought to you daily by All Us Big Steamers
And if any one hinders our coming, you'll starve!
6
Starting Note “C” on “Where”
Page 9
(After “Intro to women following the Herring” story)
Song of the Fishgutters7
Come aa ye fisher lassies now and come awa wi me,
Fae Cairnbulg and Gamrie and fae Inverallochie,
Fae Buckie and fae Aiberdeen and a’ the country roon,
We’re awa tae gut the herrin, we’re awa tae Yermouth Toon.
You rise up in the morning wi your bundle in your hand,
Be at the station early or you’ll shairly hae to stand,
Tak plenty to eat and a kettle for your tea,
Or you’ll mebbe die o hunger on the way to Yermouth quay.
The journey it’s a lang ane and it taks a day or twa,
And when you reach your lodgins sure it’s soond asleep you fa,
But ye rise at five wi the sleep still in your e’e
You’re awa tae find the gutting yairds alang the Yermouth quay.
It’s early in the morning and it’s late into the nicht,
Your hands aa cut and chappit and they look an unco sight,
And you greet like a wean when you pit them in the bree,
Any you wish you were a thoosand miles awa fae Yermouth quay.
There’s coopers there and curers there and buyers, canny chiels,
And lassies at the pickling and others at the creels,
And you’ll wish the fish had been aa left in the sea,
By the time you finish gutting herrin on the Yermouth quay.
We’ve gutted fish in Lerwick and in Stornoway and Shields,
Warked along the Humber ‘mongst the barrels and the creels,
Whitby, Grimsby, we’ve traivelled up and doon,
But the place to see the herrin is in the quay at Yermouth toon.
7
Start Note “E”
Page 10
(After “Jack died in her arms” story)
Wild Mountain Thyme (Traditional)8
Oh the Summer time is coming
And the trees are sweetly blooming
And the wild mountain thyme
Grows around the blooming heather
Will ye go lassie go
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather
Will ye go lassie go
I will build my love a bower
By the clear crystal fountain
And around it I shall lay
All the flowers of the mountain
Will ye go lassie go
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather
Will ye go lassie go
If my true love she should leave me
I would surely find no other
To pluck wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather
Will ye go lassie go
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather
Will ye go lassie go
8
Key “C”, Start Note “G” on “Summer”
Page 11