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The Hairst O' Rhettie

from Buchan Bluegrass by Tiller's Folly

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lyrics

THE HAIRST O RETTIE

I hiv seen the hairst o Rettie lads
An twa three on the throne, [i.e. farms of that ilk
I've heard for sax or seiven weeks
The hairsters girn an groan;
A covie Willie Rae
Wi a monthie an a day,
Sends aa the jolly hairsters
Singin blythly doun the brae.

Oh a monthie and a day, ma lads,
The like wis niver seen,
It's beats for sticks the fastest strips
O Vicker's new machine;
A Speedwell she brings up the rear,
An the Victory clears the way,
An twenty acre daily yields
Laid doon tae Willie Rae.

For he'll drive them [i.e. the horses] roun an roun the parks
At such an awful rate,
An steer them canny oot an in
At monys a kittle gate;
He'll wile them saftly ower a stane [i.e. coax
An mony's a hidden hole,
And he'll come by nae mishanter [i.e. no mishap
Gin you leave him wi the pole. [i.e. in charge

Oh he'll whittle aff the corners,
Maks crookit bitties stracht,
And likes tae see that man and beast
Are equal in the draucht;
An aa the shavies neat and square [i.e. sheaves straight
An nae a sheaf agley, [i.e. none out of line
He will count wi ony dominie [i.e. any teacher
Fae the Deveron tae the Spey.

Oh he'll sharp their teeth tae gar them bite,
An tap them on the jaws,
An when he fins them dowly like, [i.e. blunt
He'll brawly ken the cause;
A boltie here, a pinnie there,
An keep them aye in tune,
He will shortly stop their wild career
An brings the slackest doon. [i.e. into gear

Oh he's nae made up wi mony words
Nor kent tae puff an lee,
He's just as keen a little chap
As ony you did see;
If ye're in search o hairvest wark
Upon a market day,
Oh tak my advice, be there in time
An look for Willie Rae.

Come aa ye sturdy Rettie blades,
A ringin cheer hurrah!
A band o better workin lads
A gaffer never saw;
They're aye sae willin for tae pairt
An eager for the fray,
It was them that made the boatie row,
'Twas steered by Willie Rae.

credits

from Buchan Bluegrass, released June 1, 2006
Bruce Coughlan – vocals, guitar, tenor banjo, whistle & bodhran
Laurence Knight – electric bass, vocals
Nolan Murray – mandolin, fiddle, viola & 5-string banjo
Eric Reed – guitar, mandolin, accordion & vocals
Produced by Bruce Coughlan
Engineered & mixed by Eric Reed
Executive producer, Laurence Knight
Demos recorded at Cherryland, Maple Ridge, BC
Recorded & mixed at N.A.L. Studios, North Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Jamie Sitar at Suite Sound, Vancouver, BC
Artwork by Bruce Coughlan
Special thanks to Hok Nissen, Jim & Sue Smith, Brent Knudsen

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Bruce Coughlan Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Pacific Canadian-based recording & performing artist, Bruce Coughlan has spent decades making Acoustic Roots Music Music of all descriptions. An expressive singer and rock-solid guitarist, Bruce is driven by one guiding principle: It's all about the Song. ... more

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