“Charlie, O Charlie (Pitgair)”
Description
The farm owner prepares for a trip, instructing Charlie in how to run the farm in his absence, e.g. "To the loosin' ye'll put Shaw, Ye'll pit Sandison to ca'." He gives orders to the workers also, including Missy Pope, who will "sit in the parlor neuk."
Notes
The best-known recording of this is probably Ewan MacColl's, on "Popular Scottish Songs," learned from John Mearns of Fyvie. MacColl speaks of the "thread of tender irony which runs through it," but ironically, MacColl failed completely to understand the song. It is line-by-line parallel to Ord's text, but what MacColl sings (or, at least, what is transcribed in the Folkways booklet) is frequently nonsense -- though Ord's transcription makes clear sense. - RBW
References
- Ord, p. 216-217, "Oh Charlie, O Charlie" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #2584
- BI, Ord216