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Riddles from the island of Yell.

Date 1954
Track ID 32820
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1954.107.2

Original Tape ID

SA1954.107

Summary

Riddles from the island of Yell:

The fat fae England, the flour fae Spain,
Pittin together wi a shooer o rain,
Pittin in a pock [bag] and tied wi string,
Read da riddle an du'll get a ring.
Answer: plum pudding.

If du wid gaddir aa day du widna get a knieve [fist] fu. Answer: mist.

Flies fastest quhan its leg is broken. Answer: hedder cow [bunch of heather].

[Start missing] ... larum, lookit through his sheerim sharim
An I saw twa lintie whites [literally linnets] comin tae me nicky noose
An I swear on my wittam wottam
If I'd my bittem brottim
I wid mak that two lintie whities faw.
Answer: seagulls attacking domestic birds.

Oh fae da hoose they go atween two wids [woods]
An quhan dey come back they come atween two waters.
Answer: going to the well with two pails for water.

Seven feet an four lugs, a tail wiggin. Answer: a dog licking out of a pot.

Twa gray beards lyin i da sty,
Da mair dey get da mair dey cry
Da lesser dey get da stiller dey lie.
Answer: the mill grinding [millstones].

I wis comin ower da rigs [fields] o' Bressay,
I met me sister Annie,
I aff wi her heid,
I drank her bluid,
I left her body staunin.
Answer: a bottle of whisky.

Although I'm so lean that my ribs can be seen
I care not a faurdeen [farthing] for that,
Although I'm so lean that my ribs can be seen
I'm all covered with fat.
Answer: greasy bread on the gridiron.

Recording Location

County - Shetland

Parish - Yell

Island - Yell

Village/Place - Burravoe

Item Location

County - Shetland

Language

Scots

Genre

Verse Other

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good