Back in the days of black and white telly, there was a weekly programme on the BBC called The White Heather Club, and a very enjoyable programme it was too. The compere was usually a very nice English gentleman who spoke with the proverbial clipped BBC accent of the time. I have a great memory of him introducing the dances and the splendid names of the Scottish tunes in his rather posh accent such as:-
Lord and Lady Elgin of Broomhall
James Maxwell Robertson
Lady Elspeth Campbell
Mrs McPherson of Inverran, and Miss Kitty Ahearne of Ferry Bank, etc etc
I often wonder how he would have sounded introducing a Ceili Band playing a selection of tunes such as -
The woman with the hairy knees
Drag her round the road
Pull the knife out and stick it in again, and ’I buried my wife and danced on her grave’.
What other ‘tune names’ of tunes tickle your fancy????
I know that 'Cock up your beaver, Jemmy' actually refers to someone wearing a beaver hat at a jaunty angle - at least I hope it does, but 'Gin ye kiss my wife, I'll tell the Minister' has possibilities, not least when you get a bit confused late at night.
Key M Lad - I remember Andy well and it definitely wasn't him who was the presenter. So maybe it wasn't the White Heather Club, but it was an evening TV programme with Scottish Country Dancing featured . Early sixties. I remember there were dancers called The Deeside Dancers and a solo Scottish dancer called Bobby (somebody) It was all rather posh and organised. Meanwhile, here is another couple of gems. 'The gosson that beat his father' and 'Bob with the one horn'
'Strike the Gay Harp' .. which is a hate crime where I live.
'Drag her 'Round the Road' is kinda funny, although 'she' is probably just a plough.
Oh, and 'Gander in the Pratie Hole' just sounds dirty.
Sorry FR - in which case I'm not sure which show you're talking about.
BTW, I've been told that the Convenience Reel was actually so called because one person learned it from someone else in a toilet at a fleadh - the only place that was quiet enough..... its real name is The Boys of Sligo. Drag her Round the Road is supposed to be about dancing fast with a lady partner at a crossroads dance...so I read here anyway.
But can you imagine yer man the posh guy introducing The Ladies' Pantalettes?
Reverend, I've heard Dunmore Lasses also called the "Wilt Chamberlin" reel - since ol' Wilt claims to have Dunmore Lasses than anybody in NBA history. (20,000 according to his bio!)
I recently played a session with someone who played "Drag her Round the Road" into "Love at the Endings." I told him that was a bit of an optimistic set.
Then there was the One O'Clock Gang, a lunchtime show in the sixties in Scotland, where, once, after Fanny Craddock had been making some tarts, the presenter, possibly Arthur Montford, said something like "....and if you follow the recipe, you'll have tarts just like Fanny's." with a complete straight face, probably the only person in Scotland who had a straight face at that moment.
I always assumed floating crowbar was referring to the act of laying concrete. When a crowbar floats on the concrete, it has set to a certain amount that allows you to do the finish work on it...
What erotic or compromising situation could have inspired the title "Touch me if you dare" ?
Was the composer a woman ? Not necessarily.
Could it have been the tune that dares not speak its name ?
Answers on a postcard..............
If you're really interested in the background of The Floating Crowbar you could try and contact Brendan McGlinchy who composed it.
mehere reminded of another obscure tune title "Upstairs in a tent". I'm not sure if Tie the Bonnet (alternative title) would be sourced as an older name though.
Go to the devil and shake yourself
...which was also the first tune I learned (nasty thread crossover )
The cow that ate the blanket.. must have been a hungry cow, usually goats are the accused
Guns of the magnificent seven - that's a great tune name
My mind will never be easy
there was a discussion a little while ago where some mentioned how irrelevent tune names were... IMHO they add a little colour and interest - they can create curiousity as how the tune was 'discovered' and to me that's really worthwhile.
And Mrs Craddock's reposte was "And your sausage-rolls will come out like Johnny's".
(that may be lost on people over the pond - it's a colloquial name name for a contraceptive)
My favorite is the Rattling Bog - at least it does, when I am on it.
Some of the Highland pipe tune names, while not in any way suggestive or amusing, have a strange cumbersome ring to them:
Dr Ross' 50th Farewell to the Argyllshire Gathering
Donald, Willie, And His Dog
The Marchioness of Tullibardine
Corriechoillie's Welcome to the Northern Meeting
The Duke of Roxburgh's Farewell to the Blackmount Forest
Over the Bows to Ballindalloch
Major Manson's Farewell to Clachantrushal
I know the ,Sitting on the Throne, was already mentioned, but also on the album titled 'The Ring sessions' is 'Touching Cloth'... Bit of a running theme there...
Then there's 'Swinging on the Gate' and 'The Night before Larry was stretched'....
Eejit---
Loved your Chamberlain thing---but, like George Carlin
says to his coworker in "Jersey Girl"----you really didn't
have to explain your sh*te (read one liner).
Still an amazing fact !!--but you'd think he'd be given a
more studly moniker than "Wilt".
Shove That Pig's Foot,
Drunk at Night and Dry in the Mornin',
Guzzle Together, which could lead to -
This is no My Ain Hoose,
Hoop Her and Gird Her (what could that be about?...a whiskey barrel?),
The Piper's Maggot (ew!),
An Phis Phluich...not in polite company, eh?
Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Back in the days of black and white telly, there was a weekly programme on the BBC called The White Heather Club, and a very enjoyable programme it was too. The compere was usually a very nice English gentleman who spoke with the proverbial clipped BBC accent of the time. I have a great memory of him introducing the dances and the splendid names of the Scottish tunes in his rather posh accent such as:-
Lord and Lady Elgin of Broomhall
James Maxwell Robertson
Lady Elspeth Campbell
Mrs McPherson of Inverran, and Miss Kitty Ahearne of Ferry Bank, etc etc
I often wonder how he would have sounded introducing a Ceili Band playing a selection of tunes such as -
The woman with the hairy knees
Drag her round the road
Pull the knife out and stick it in again, and ’I buried my wife and danced on her grave’.
What other ‘tune names’ of tunes tickle your fancy????
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Free Reed
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Wasn't it Andy Stewart presenting? Not exactly a cut glass accent if I remember.
There's a clip oan here that'll tak' ye back!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/aboutus/wirelesstoweb/decades/clip_display.shtml?decade=50s&clip_name=heather_club_v&size=v&media_type=video
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
BTW, if you right-click on the image, click on "play in RealPlayer" you can get a full-sized image - if you can bear it!
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
I know that 'Cock up your beaver, Jemmy' actually refers to someone wearing a beaver hat at a jaunty angle - at least I hope it does, but 'Gin ye kiss my wife, I'll tell the Minister' has possibilities, not least when you get a bit confused late at night.
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by c.g.
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
An Phis Fluich (sp?) would have to be translated, of course, for the benefit of the Anglophone audience, you understand......
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Key M Lad - I remember Andy well and it definitely wasn't him who was the presenter. So maybe it wasn't the White Heather Club, but it was an evening TV programme with Scottish Country Dancing featured . Early sixties. I remember there were dancers called The Deeside Dancers and a solo Scottish dancer called Bobby (somebody) It was all rather posh and organised. Meanwhile, here is another couple of gems. 'The gosson that beat his father' and 'Bob with the one horn'
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Free Reed
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
'Strike the Gay Harp' .. which is a hate crime where I live.
'Drag her 'Round the Road' is kinda funny, although 'she' is probably just a plough.
Oh, and 'Gander in the Pratie Hole' just sounds dirty.
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Farr
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Kitty got a Clinking coming to the Fair -
(and all the immature banjo players began to giggle...)
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Cock o' the North.
The Smell of the Bog.
The Convenience Reel.
Gillians Apples.
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Bernie
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Sitting on the Throne
Rolling in the Rye Grass
Behind the Haystack
The Woodcock
Ask My Father
I could go on...
Pete
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
oh, and don't forget Dunmore Lasses
Pete
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
I always like "Eel in the Sink". Not dirty or directly funny but I would love to know who thought up the name. Such a great title!
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Sorry FR - in which case I'm not sure which show you're talking about.
BTW, I've been told that the Convenience Reel was actually so called because one person learned it from someone else in a toilet at a fleadh - the only place that was quiet enough..... its real name is The Boys of Sligo. Drag her Round the Road is supposed to be about dancing fast with a lady partner at a crossroads dance...so I read here anyway.
But can you imagine yer man the posh guy introducing The Ladies' Pantalettes?
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Reverend, I've heard Dunmore Lasses also called the "Wilt Chamberlin" reel - since ol' Wilt claims to have Dunmore Lasses than anybody in NBA history. (20,000 according to his bio!)
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
The floating Crowbar has always puzzled me. Any manufacturers of inflatable crowbars out there ? Why not the Heavy Feather while we're at it ?
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by pennhorse
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
I recently played a session with someone who played "Drag her Round the Road" into "Love at the Endings." I told him that was a bit of an optimistic set.
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Then there was the One O'Clock Gang, a lunchtime show in the sixties in Scotland, where, once, after Fanny Craddock had been making some tarts, the presenter, possibly Arthur Montford, said something like "....and if you follow the recipe, you'll have tarts just like Fanny's." with a complete straight face, probably the only person in Scotland who had a straight face at that moment.
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Fasten the leg in her
(?)
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by grego
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
I always assumed floating crowbar was referring to the act of laying concrete. When a crowbar floats on the concrete, it has set to a certain amount that allows you to do the finish work on it...
Could be wrong though...
Pete
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
One to play at an RSPCA dance - 'Whip the cat from underneath the table' followed by 'The cat that ate the candle'
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Free Reed
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
"I always assumed floating crowbar was referring to the act of laying concrete."
Drat! - what a sensible explanation ...
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by spindizzy
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
What erotic or compromising situation could have inspired the title "Touch me if you dare" ?
Was the composer a woman ? Not necessarily.
Could it have been the tune that dares not speak its name ?
Answers on a postcard..............
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by murfbox
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Crabs in the Skillet .... it's alright they have something you can take for that now.
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by spindizzy
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Upstairs And To Bed fits the description I suppose.
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by mehere
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
what about the torn pedicoat
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by m d
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
If you're really interested in the background of The Floating Crowbar you could try and contact Brendan McGlinchy who composed it.
mehere reminded of another obscure tune title "Upstairs in a tent". I'm not sure if Tie the Bonnet (alternative title) would be sourced as an older name though.
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by PaddyCmusic
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Four bare legs all together. (I do not want to know!)
Kissed her under the coverlets. (A bit suggestive, too)
And I always simply liked the sound of :
The banshee's wail over the mangle pit.
# Posted on September 20th 2007 by Rook
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
The Coast of Austria
Kitty got a clinking coming from the Races
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by chuneboi slim
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
"The Nine Points of Roguery" (which Tommy Peoples has a recording of with "The Maid on the Floor")...
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by possumawesome
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
I've always gotten a chuckle out of Chesire's Bang Your Frog on the Sofa.
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by Screetch
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
How do Chickens Know the Size of Eggcups
I had to learn that just cause of the name. Glad I did.
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by feardearg
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Go to the devil and shake yourself
)
...which was also the first tune I learned (nasty thread crossover
The cow that ate the blanket.. must have been a hungry cow, usually goats are the accused
Guns of the magnificent seven - that's a great tune name
My mind will never be easy
there was a discussion a little while ago where some mentioned how irrelevent tune names were... IMHO they add a little colour and interest - they can create curiousity as how the tune was 'discovered' and to me that's really worthwhile.
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by Brown Creeper
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
The Cat's Rambles to the Child's Saucepan
Granny hold the Candle while I shave the Chicken's lip
The Chicken that Made the Soup
Just throwing a few more in there.
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by PaddyCmusic
Re: tarts just like Fanny's
And Mrs Craddock's reposte was "And your sausage-rolls will come out like Johnny's".
(that may be lost on people over the pond - it's a colloquial name name for a contraceptive)
My favorite is the Rattling Bog - at least it does, when I am on it.
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
My favourite is 'My mother drowned in the pool at Lourdes'
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by Pól
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Oh, and 'Upstairs in a tent'
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by Pól
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Some of the Highland pipe tune names, while not in any way suggestive or amusing, have a strange cumbersome ring to them:
Dr Ross' 50th Farewell to the Argyllshire Gathering
Donald, Willie, And His Dog
The Marchioness of Tullibardine
Corriechoillie's Welcome to the Northern Meeting
The Duke of Roxburgh's Farewell to the Blackmount Forest
Over the Bows to Ballindalloch
Major Manson's Farewell to Clachantrushal
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by Richard D Cook
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
The stool of repentance
( after 6 pints of guiness and a curry)
# Posted on September 21st 2007 by Gillyvelvet
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
I know the ,Sitting on the Throne, was already mentioned, but also on the album titled 'The Ring sessions' is 'Touching Cloth'... Bit of a running theme there...
Then there's 'Swinging on the Gate' and 'The Night before Larry was stretched'....
# Posted on September 22nd 2007 by nnicharra
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Eejit---
Loved your Chamberlain thing---but, like George Carlin
says to his coworker in "Jersey Girl"----you really didn't
have to explain your sh*te (read one liner).
Still an amazing fact !!--but you'd think he'd be given a
more studly moniker than "Wilt".
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by hauke
Re: Names of tunes that tickle your fancy!
Shove That Pig's Foot,
Drunk at Night and Dry in the Mornin',
Guzzle Together, which could lead to -
This is no My Ain Hoose,
Hoop Her and Gird Her (what could that be about?...a whiskey barrel?),
The Piper's Maggot (ew!),
An Phis Phluich...not in polite company, eh?
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by futless1