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Lament of a Traveller Woman

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1974.290.A7

Original Tape ID

SA1974.290

Summary

The woman is tired being on her knees all day pulling bracken, her hands are dry from making besoms [brooms], her feet are blistered from hawking hooses [going from door to door selling], her back is bent with cooking, her head is sore from pinjin [complaining/whining] children, her soul is perjured from telling fortunes. She will get peace when she is dead and in her grave.

Stanley Robertson learned this song from his mother and calls it 'The Lament of the Tinker Woman'. He had not sung it for years till a chance event reminded him of it. He had sung it at the University Folk Club but wanted the School of Scottish Studies to have the first recording of it.

Item Notes

6 verses. Tune is 'Buain Na Rainich'.

Language

Scots

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good