“The Feeing Time (II)”

Description

Singer goes to Glasgow seeking a job, and is hired by a farmer. He describes the bad working conditions: the servant-maids give food to the dog instead of to the workers; the horses won't work. He'll bundle up his "auld bit rags and gang the road I cam"

Notes

Somehow, the last verse of "I Walk the Road Again" seems to have made it across the Atlantic and gotten translated into Scots. - PJS

Not to be confused with "The Feeing Time (II)," which is a song about a courtship.

To earn one's fee was to go to a hiring fair and be taken on for a position. - RBW

Also collected and sung by Ellen Mitchell, "Feein Day" (on Kevin and Ellen Mitchell, "Have a Drop Mair," Musical Tradition Records MTCD315-6 CD (2001)) - BS

Cross references

• cf. "I Walk the Road Again" (lyrics)
• cf. "The Barnyards o' Delgaty" (theme)
• cf. "Copshawholm Fair" (subject)

References

1. MacSeegTrav 104, "The Feein' Time" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. DT, FEETIME*
3. BI, McCST104