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Travellers modified songs to express their feelings; an exam...

Date 17 November 1975
Track ID 77237
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1975.190

Original Tape ID

SA1975.190

Summary

Travellers modified songs to express their feelings; an example.

Telling stories and singing passed the time around the camp-fire. Betsy Whyte's mother had songs for every mood. When she was angry she sang marches, adding words of her own to express her feelings, especially to Betsy's father. Women and men often did this.

On one occasion, Betsy's mother was jealous of a woman called Meg Burns and was nagging her husband about her. Betsy diddles the words that he altered to provoke Betsy's mother, in effect telling her to kiss Meg Burns' backside:

Oota moola feega, oota moola feega, oota moola feega,
Red hips, Jean's nose, Meg Burns.

Betsy's mother grabbed his razor and almost slit her own throat in aggravation.

Language

Scots

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good