“The Overgate”
Description
Singer meets a lass at the Overgate; she eats as much as an elephant, then invites him to her bed. A policeman pushes him downstairs. He complains that he's lost his valuables; she retorts that she's lost her maidenhead "and that's a damn sight worse."
Long description
Singer meets a lass at the Overgate (Dundee market) and takes her to a restaurant, where she eats as much as an elephant, then invites him to her house for the night. When he arrives, a policeman gives him a "whirly-jig" and pushes him downstairs. He complains that he's lost his waistcoat, watch and purse; she retorts that she's lost her maidenhead "and that's a damn sight worse." He envisions going home to Auchtermuchty and vows he'll never forget Dundee
Notes
Kennedy says that this may be based on "As I Roved Out" (his version of "Seventeen Come Sunday"). This is a bit strong; Kennedy has lumped obvious "Seventeen Come Sunday" variants under "The Overgate." But cross-fertilization certainly took place; the two share tunes, choruses, and theme. There are hints of elements from other songs of this type as well. - RBW
Yates, Musical Traditions site _Voice of the People suite_ "Notes - Volume 20" - 15.1.04: "The song 'A Waukrife Minnie,' which Burns sent to the Scots Musical Museum (1790) would seem to be an antecedent of the song." That may be true of "Seventeen Come Sunday" [Laws O17], but I think that's as close as it comes. - BS
I've lumped two versions together here; in one (Belle Stewart's) the young man is chased out by a policeman, while in the other (Jeannie Robertson's) he hides his money but awakens in an alley. Still essentially the same story. - PJS
Cross references
- cf. "Seventeen Come Sunday" (tune, plot), plus all the other "seduced and robbed" songs
- cf. "The Shift and the Apron"
Recordings
- Belle Stewart, "The Overgate" (on Voice20)
- Belle Stewart & Hamish Henderson, "The Overgate" (on FSB2CD)
References
- Kennedy 187, "The Overgate" (1 text plus another in the appendix, 1 tune)
- MacSeegTrav 47, "The Overgate" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, OVERGATE* OVERGAT2*
- Roud #866
- BI, K187