The Cuckoo

Contributors

Imlach, Hamish, 1940-1996 (7676)

Fieldworkers

Munro, Ailie Edmunds, 1919-2002 (2887)

Date 18 February 1971

Track ID 76446

Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1971.15.B1

Original Tape ID

SA1971.015

Summary

Old-time American song describing the cuckoo's habit of not crying cuckoo until the 4th of July, along with verses pondering on love and lamenting having lost at gambling.

Hamish Imlach forgets the words after verse 3 and digresses into a song about 'Sweet Rosie O'Grady', joking that he sometimes plays with audiences who are expecting him to sing a dirty line in the song that never arrives.

Item Notes

3 verses followed by a digression then a repeat of the first verse. With guitar accompaniment. Old-time American song. Recorded at Heriot-Watt University Students' Union, at a cèilidh in aid of 'Stampede', an Edinburgh people's newspaper.

Recording Location

County - Midlothian

Parish - Edinburgh

Village/Place - Edinburgh

Language

English

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good