The Forfar Sodger
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1952.01.B5 (B16)
Original Tape ID
Summary
This song tells the story of a Forfar weaver's son who joined the army, was sent to Spain to fight, and was injured. He was sent home to Forfar where he now lives off his pension.
Willie Mathieson learned the song at the threshing when he was a boy.
Item Notes
Text and music transcribed in the School of Scottish Studies. 13 verses. Originally called 'The Forfar Pensioner', written by David Shaw of Forfar (c. 1776-1856). It was "composed during the reign of 'brochan an' brose,' big blue bonnets, and Waterloo pipes (Alan Reid, 'Bards of Angus and the Mearns', Paisley, 1897). Possibly written in the 1830s.
See also:
Greig-Duncan vol. 1, pp. 161-170, no. 69
Willie Mathieson's MSS I:32
Recording Location
County - Aberdeenshire
Parish - Ellon
Village/Place - Ellon
Item Location
County - Angus
Parish - Forfar
Village/Place - Forfar
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good