Search

The Horseman's Word / Nicky Tams

Date January 1952
Track ID 17780
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1952.11.A8a; SA1952.11.A8b

Original Tape ID

SA1952.011

Summary

Detailed account of the secret Horseman's Word ceremony.

As Hamish Henderson asks about the Horseman's Word, the bed collapses. Willie Mathieson tells him the word is ENO, not to be written or dited [indited]. Willie was working at Cairndale when he was initiated into the cult. He was taken across country by night, blindfolded, told the word and sworn not to reveal it. The ceremony was conducted by a 'minister'. Willie was told to write the word and then punished by a crack of the whip butt across fingers which are still sore sometimes after 50 years. He shook hands with the Devil (a horse's hoof) and there were clanking chains. Women came to eavesdrop and knocked over rakes; the men ran away, and Willie was left on his knees and had to free himself. He had to bring a loaf, a jar of jam and a bottle of whisky. He was warned of the approaching ceremony by a horsehair sent through the post.

Willie quotes the Horseman's Word rhyme:

Between the manger and the greep [gutter in a byre]
As fair as I do hang my wheep [whip],
Between the stable and the cairtshed
There a horseman I was made.
Here's to the pair with the three white feet
A star on baith their faces;
Here's tae the lad that yokit them
And brought them to their places.
Here's to the horse with the fower white feet
Its chestnut tail and mane,
A star on its face and a spot on its breist
An its maister was Jubal Cain.

Hamish mentions that it is just Cain in the MS but Willie says that the biblical Cain was not a horseman. He then sings the "Horseman's grip an word" verse of 'Nicky Tams'.

Item Notes

'Nicky Tams' is sung in full on the previous track on the same tape (SA1952.011).

Recording Location

County - Aberdeenshire

Parish - Ellon

Village/Place - Ellon

Item Location

County - Aberdeenshire

Parish - Cairnie

Language

Scots

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R1875

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good