Yowie wi the Crookit Horn
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1955.177.B1
Original Tape ID
Summary
In this song, a man owns a much-appreciated illicit still (the 'ewie wi the crookit horn') until it is stolen by a 'nicken' [rascal]. He vows: "Gin I had the lad that did it /I wid kill him as sure as I said it / ... / I wid gie his neck a thra'".
Sung as a strathspey.
Item Notes
Recorded at a 'Ballads & Blues Concert' at Allen Glen's School, Glasgow. Three verses of eight lines.
Despite the popular re-write by The Rev. John Skinner (1721-1807),
pastor of Longside in Aberdeenshire, which appeared in Johnson's
'Scots Musical Museum', and which implies that the 'ewie' in the song
is an actual sheep, older traditional versions of this song, such as
those preserved by the traveller community, tell us clearly that the
'ewie wi the crookit horn' is an illicit still.
See:
'Tocher 23' (1976) pp.264-265
'Folksongs of Britain & Ireland' (P. Kennedy, 1975) p.603
'Vagabond Songs & Ballads vol. 1' (R. Ford, 1899) pp.87-90
'The Scots Musical Museum vol 3' (J. Johnson, R. Burns, 1853 edition)
No.293
'Jeannie Robertson: Emergent Singer, Transformative Voice' (J. Porter
& H. Gower, 1995) pp.143-144
Recording Location
County - Lanarkshire
Parish - Glasgow
Village/Place - Glasgow
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Classification
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good