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A song made by Cissy Johnston to express her aggravation at...

Date 17 November 1975
Track ID 77239
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1975.190

Original Tape ID

SA1975.190

Summary

A song made by Cissy Johnston to express her aggravation at losing her man to another woman:

Sir William Worms met a flae [flea],
Dodgin doon tae Brechin-o
As they did chance to go that way,
Thocht he'd keep her company-o.

Says the flae, "My son, I doot ye're done,
Comin doon tae Brechin-o
Cos she's a thing on her heid that melts wi the sun."
Poor Sir William Worms-o.

Betsy Whyte explains that the thing on the woman's head was a scab, this being the nickname of the family she came from, which Betsy hesitates to identify, but spells out as MacArthur. Bryce Whyte explains that Travellers regard it as unlucky to say the name. Both agree that the family in question are queer.

Item Subject/Person

Johnston, Cissy; MacArthur family, Travellers

Language

Scots

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good