Ronnie Browne
Scottish singer of mainly traditional songs
Liner notes to "Scottish Love Songs".
1. Dunbarton's Drums.
This song does not relate to the drums of the garrison of dumbarton on the
Clyde, as many suppose, but to a British Regiment which was called "Dumbarton's
Regiment" after the first commander. the Earl of Dumbarton, who was
attached to the Stuart family and died in exile in France in 1692. Any sticklers
for detail out there can blame me for changing "Johnnie" to
"Jeannie", thereby immediately turning a woman's song into a man's.
Sorry ladies.
2. My Love is like a Red Red Rose
Arguably the best love song ever written, but without
question certainly one of the best known. At a recent concert, after the show, a
friend of mine, who had been in the audience came back stage to compliment me on
one of the songs. When I asked which one in particular, he replied, "That
one called, My Live is Like aRed Red Nose". I'm awfy glad I had done this
recording of it before, because I'll never think of it in the same way again. I
hope you've listened to it before you read this note.
3. Come all ye fair and tender Maidens
I hope I'll be forgiven for including this Irish song, I do
so for purely nostalgic reasons in as much as, every time I sing it, I'm
transported to my early singing days at parties in company with legends such as
the Clancy Brothers, Banjo Barney McKenna and the late Luke Kelly, as soloists
before the formation of the Dubliners, and the then fresh-faced Fureys, Fin and
Eddie, to name but a few, My God am I getting old?
4. The touch and the Go
The song was recorded some time ago by Mrs Makem, mother of
Tommy Makem. Cathal enlisted the help of Ron Shaw, an Edinburgh musician, for
accompaniment on cello - an instrument which has associations with Scottish
traditional music dating back to Niel Gow (1727 - 1807) and his brother Donald.
5. The Bonnie Lass O' Fyvie
. We learned these two polkas from a recording by the Cameron
brothers of Kirriemuir, Angus, who were active in fiddle music in that area in
the 1920's and 1930's. The barn dance came from Tralee musicians Siobhan and
Maire O'Keefe although we think it is a Northern tune.
6. Loch Lomond
A song in Irish from Christy. This Connemara version derives
from Sean 'ac Dhonncha and dates back to around 1790. It is enlivened by bursts
of the reel which Cathal learned from Eddie Duffy in 1974.
7. The Bonnie Earl O'Moray
This beautiful air was composed by a schoolmaster by the name
of Riordan, who, while changing schools, lost his books during their transfer by
boat between Valentia Island and the mainland. It carrie words in Irish and was
known also as "The Story of the books". We follow it with a slowed
down version of a Galway fiddle reel normally played in D minor. The last reel
is another of Dave's own tunes, in E major. It is named for our longstanding
friends John and Margaret MacArthur of Marlboro, Vermont, and their extended
family, who have provided down home hospitality, support and encouragement on
many occasions.
8. The Canvas of my Life
In early 1954, whilst at Boroughmuir School in Edinburgh I
met a wee cracker called Pat Elliot. There followed a five year courtship,
culminating in our wedding on June 30th 1959. In all that time, Pat has been by
my side, and on my side, well ... give or take a few ..., in everything I've
ever done. It was glancing up at one of the various portraits I've painted of
her over the years that set me thinking about writing this song. So this one is
for Pat, for a lifetime's love, support and encouragement throughout the good
times and the bad, and by the way she's still a wee cracker.
9. Kate Dalrymple
(If my memory serves me correctly, I seem to remember as a
boy, before the days of television in every home, listening each Saturday night
at 5.30 to a programme on steam radio called Scottish country Dancing. the
signature was "Kate Dalrymple". In those days, I only ever heard the
melody, so it was with a great deal of pleasure that, when my life led me into
singing, I discovered the words of the song. I was paricularly pleased to learn
from them that
a. not all love ongs are of the doom and gloom and sadness variety, and
b. there's hope fro us all.
10. The Massacre of Glencoe
The first of these waltzes has a long association with the
pipes, appearing in Volume 4 of O'Farrell's "Pocket Companion for the Irish
or Union Pipes", published in London between 1801 and 1810. A New Year
visit to Stromness, Orkney, at the end of 1977 gave us "The Stronsay
Waltz". Dave heard bill Halcro play it on his piano accordion as they went
first-footing around the houses and was immediately taken with it.
11/12. Mary Hamilton/ The Queen's Maries
The first of these waltzes has a long association with the
pipes, appearing in Volume 4 of O'Farrell's "Pocket Companion for the Irish
or Union Pipes", published in London between 1801 and 1810. A New Year
visit to Stromness, Orkney, at the end of 1977 gave us "The Stronsay
Waltz". Dave heard bill Halcro play it on his piano accordion as they went
first-footing around the houses and was immediately taken with it.
13. Leezie Linsay
The first of these waltzes has a long association with the
pipes, appearing in Volume 4 of O'Farrell's "Pocket Companion for the Irish
or Union Pipes", published in London between 1801 and 1810. A New Year
visit to Stromness, Orkney, at the end of 1977 gave us "The Stronsay
Waltz". Dave heard bill Halcro play it on his piano accordion as they went
first-footing around the houses and was immediately taken with it.
14. Gin I were a Baron's Heir
The first of these waltzes has a long association with the
pipes, appearing in Volume 4 of O'Farrell's "Pocket Companion for the Irish
or Union Pipes", published in London between 1801 and 1810. A New Year
visit to Stromness, Orkney, at the end of 1977 gave us "The Stronsay
Waltz". Dave heard bill Halcro play it on his piano accordion as they went
first-footing around the houses and was immediately taken with it.
15. Willie's gan' tae Mellville Castle
The first of these waltzes has a long association with the
pipes, appearing in Volume 4 of O'Farrell's "Pocket Companion for the Irish
or Union Pipes", published in London between 1801 and 1810. A New Year
visit to Stromness, Orkney, at the end of 1977 gave us "The Stronsay
Waltz". Dave heard bill Halcro play it on his piano accordion as they went
first-footing around the houses and was immediately taken with it.
16. The Parting Glass
There's an old Scottish song written by Sir Alex Boswell
called 'Goodnight, an' Joy Be Wi' Ye A', which was "time out of mind, been
played at the breaking up of convivial parties in Scotland". Although it
contains the same sentiments as The Parting Glass, I feel the words are not as
relevant to modern gatherings, and I therefore chose this, which I believe to be
the Irish equivalent, to put a final close to my own live performances. In
making it the final song of this collection I hasten to say that I hope this is
not "Goodbye", but merely "au revoir".
Last updated on 22/08/2010