Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Rattlin' Roarin' Willie

slip jig

Key signature: Gmixolydian

Submitted on June 16th 2003 by cj.

This tune has been added to 43 tunebooks.

Also known as Mitford Galloway, The Mitford Galloway, Rantin' Roarin' Willie, Rantin' Roarin' Willy, Rattlin' Roarin' Willy.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Rattlin' Roarin' Willie
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
R: slip jig
K: Gmix
|:d | B2 G GAG Bde | fcA F2 A c2 d | B2 G GAG Bde | g^fg B2 c def |
g^fg dBG Bde | f2 c AFA c2 e | dBd e2 d egd | BGB AFA G2 :|

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments
Rattlin' Roarin' Willie sheetmusic
Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Rattlin' Roarin' Willie

I transcribed the abc's from The Scottish Ceilidh Collection for Fiddlers, from Taigh na Teud, one of several books I think many of you are familiar with. Ryan requested it long ago. The book put it in G major and naturalized half the f's, and I put it in mix and sharped the other half. Any preferences?

# Posted on June 16th 2003 by cj

Rattlin, Roarin' Willie

One of my favourite song introductions of all time, by Roy Gullane of the "Tannahill Weavers" - "This is a song by our national poet Robert Burns. It's called "Rattlin' Roarin' Willie", and many people think that's what he died of.......".

# Posted on June 16th 2003 by Kenny

Sweeney's Men recorded this song in 1968 - the first ever recording featuring an Irish musician (Johnny Moynihan) playing a bouzouki.

I notice the version posted here by cj has only one part. I have a two part version in A mixolydian, which I got from Richard Robinson's Tunebook (see Links section):

M:9/8
K:Amix
f|ecA ABA cef|gfg B2c d2f|ecA ABA ceg|a^ga c2d ef=g|a^ga ecA ecd|gfg B2c d2f|ecA f2e fae|cAc BGB A2:|
:f|ecA acA ecA|BGB gBG d2f|ecA acA ecA|agf ecA e2f/g/|agf ecA cef|gfg B2c d2f|ecA f2e fae|cAc BGB A2:||

# Posted on June 18th 2003 by ragaman

Te Tune

Y'migh check out Great Big Sea's and the Chieftains vresion of it on Fire in the Kitchen

# Posted on June 21st 2003 by Pádraig

Rattlin' Roarin Willie

There is a version of this on the Barra McNeils "Racket in the Attic" CD. I think the Barra McNeils also participated in the Fire in the Kitchen version.

# Posted on June 22nd 2003 by Rando

Mitford Galloway

I only know this as a 9/4 hornpipe. The setting I play is close to the one in the Northumbrian Minstrelsy. I learnt it off a Kathryn Tickell CD:

M:9/4
K:G
|:e2|dcBABG d4G2 Bcd2e2|=f2gfed f2c2A2 c4e2|dcBABG d4G2 Bcd2ef|efgfge g2d2B2 d4ef|
gfefge g2d2B2 d3cB2|c2B2A2 =f2c2A2 cBcdef|g4d2 e4d2 gfefge|dcBcdB c2A2F2 G4:|
|:d2|G2BcdB d2BcdB G2BcdB|=F2ABcA =f2c2A2 c4e2|G2BcdB d2BcdB G2BcdB|g2BcdB d2BcdB d2e2f2|
g2BcdB d2BcdB g2BcdB|c2ABcA =f2c2A2 cBcdef|g4d2 e4d2 gfefge|dcBcdB c2A2F2 G4:|

# Posted on April 19th 2004 by Dow

Rattly roarin Willie

Thats all well and good but where do i find the words?

# Posted on August 19th 2004 by Rollix

Try a "search"

Took me 15 seconds

Rattlin' Roarin' Willie

O rattlin' roarin ' Willie
Oh he held to the fair
An' for to sell his fiddle
An' buy some other ware
But partin' wi' his fiddle
The saut tear blint his eye
And rattlin' roarin' Willie
Ye're welcome hame to me!

O Willie, come sell your fiddle
O sell your fiddle sae fine
O Willie, come sell your fiddle
And buy a pint o' wine!
If I should sell my fiddle
The warl' would think I was mad
For mony a rantin' day
My fiddle and I ha'e had.

As I cam' by Chrochallan
I cannily keekit ben
Rattlin' roarin' Willie
Was sitting at yon board en'
Sitting at yon board en'
And amang guid companie
Rattlin' roarin' Willie
Ye're welcome hame to me!

# Posted on August 19th 2004 by Kenny

Old Burnsie's Work

Actually, if I am not mistaken, he only worte the last stanza.
Or at least that is what I read somewhere...

# Posted on February 5th 2007 by Ben Miller

Rattlin' Roarin' Willie

Quite right, Ben. Burns himself claimed only the last verse. It's said that the hero of the song was a lawyer in Edinburgh, one William Dunbar, also a colonel of the Crochallan corps. He is described by Burns as "one of the worthiest fellows in the world."

# Posted on February 5th 2007 by nigelg

"Rattlin', Roarin' Willie" ~ slip jig in 2 parts

Key signature: D Mixolydian & G in the comments
Submitted on October 7th 2007 by ceolachan.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7837

# Posted on October 8th 2007 by ceolachan

"Rantin', Roarin' Willie" ~ another curious single line take ~

Sorry, but I can't find any information as to where I learned it this way. I only remember it being this repeatedly, suspecting it has something to do with the song...

X: 4
T: Rantin', Roarin' Willie
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
R: slip jig
K: G Mixolydian
|: d>^cd G2 A B>de | f>ef A2 B c2 e |
d>^cd G2 A B2 ^f | g^fg B2 c d>e=f |
g>fe f>ed e>dc | f>ef A2 B c2 e |
d>^cd e2 d e<gB | A2 G G3- G2 :|

# Posted on October 9th 2007 by ceolachan

More on RRW

Anyone coming here might also be interested in the extended article on RRW on the LBPS site:
http://lbps.net/RRW/
where there are many more versions of both tune and lyrics.

I also opened a thread on the dunsire bagpipe forum:
http://www.bobdunsire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=472380#Post472380
though this may be inactive if you read this much later than the date of posting.

# Posted on June 9th 2008 by Matt Seattle

Not a member yet? Sign up!

forgotten your password?

Frequently Asked Questions

Enter your email address to have your password sent to you.