The Clatterin o Clyde's Waters
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1973.111.B4a
Original Tape ID
Summary
A truncated version of 'Clyde's Water' in which Willie rides out to see his sweetheart Maggie, and must cross the treacherous River Clyde to do so. When he arrives at the river's edge, he asks the Clyde to let him cross, even if it should not permit him to return. When Willie arrives at Maggie's house, she refuses to let him in, as her house is full of guests. He turns to leave, dejected. When he returns to the Clyde, his first step in the water sees him lose his hat, and on bending down to retrieve it, he is taken by the river. His brother urges him to grab hold of his stallion [song ends abruptly when tape runs out].
Stanley Robertson remarks that this version has been passed down through his people [Travellers] and is unique to them.
Item Notes
11 verses of 4 lines; tape runs out during verse 11.
See:
'Tocher' 40 (1986) pp. 211-214
Greig-Duncan vol. 6, pp. 433-441
'Scottish Ballads' (E. Lyle, 1994) pp. 206-210
'The Scottish Ballads' (R. Chambers, 1829) pp. 301-305
'Book of Scottish Ballads' (A. Whitelaw, 1845) pp. 38-39
'Ballads of Scotland' vol. 1 (W. E. Aytoun, 1858) pp. 154-157
'Minstrelsy Ancient & Modern' (W. Motherwell, 1827) pp. 155-160
'Ancient Ballads and Songs' vol. 2 (P. Buchan, 1828) pp. 137-142
'Traditional Ballad Airs' vol. 2 (W. Christie, 1881) pp. 250-251
'Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads' (A. Keith, G. Greig, 1925) pp. 146-150
'Andrew Crawfurd's Collection of Ballads & Songs' vol. 2 (E. Lyle, 1996) pp. 30-32
'Folk-Song of the North-East' (G. Greig, K. Goldstein, A. Argo, 1963 reprint) art. LX
Recording Location
County - Kinross-shire
Parish - Kinross
Village/Place - Kinross
Item Location
Village/Place - River Clyde
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good