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The Tarves Rant

Date August 1954
Track ID 69025
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1954.91.B7

Original Tape ID

SA1954.091

Summary

A group of farm workers go on the spree. On the way home, the singer becomes separated from his comrades and gets into a fight with a policeman. The man struggles as the policeman tries to arrest him, and the policeman eventually locks him in a room at the inn. The man escapes through a window but is immediately apprehended once more. He is taken to court in Aberdeen and fined 30 shillings plus 15 shillings to replace the policeman's coat. In the valedictory verse, the singer warns other ploughboys to avoid doing as he has done.

Geordie Robertson heard the song around 40 years previously at Yokieshill [near Mintlaw]. A cattleman made the song up about himself.

Item Notes

12 verses.

See:
Greig-Duncan, vol. 3, pp. 391-396, no. 576

Recording Location

County - Aberdeenshire

Parish - Aberdeen

Village/Place - Aberdeen

Item Location

County - Aberdeenshire

Parish - Tarves

Village/Place - Tarves

Language

English, Scots

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R4847 GD576

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good