rakes???

orbis · Post by **orbis** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 5:40 am

Having spent a considerable amount of time in and about the celtic music scene, I have encountered my fair share of "Rakes of" tunes........ And so I've decided to make this inquiry on the good old Chiff and Fipple forum:

What exactly is a rake anyway???

(I can only assume that these wonderful old tunes were not being written
about lawn care equipment.)

I've heard a few different theories, but I'm hoping that someone can give me a definite answer, and help me put this mystery to rest...!:-)

lixnaw · Post by **lixnaw** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 5:56 am

a rake usually plays by ear,
a rake won't listen
a rake usually gets drunk
a rake won't tell you

Kevin L. Rietmann · Post by **Kevin L. Rietmann** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 6:02 am

"As I was at the Fair of Athy
I saw an old petticoat hung out to dry
I took off my trousers and hung them to dry
To keep that old petticoat warm."

To the tune of the Rakes of Kildare...

\Rake\, n. [OE. rakel rash; cf. Icel. reikall wandering, unsettled, reika to wander.] A loose, disorderly, vicious man; a person addicted to lewdness and other scandalous vices; a debauchee; a rou['e].

An illiterate and frivolous old rake. --Macaulay.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Roger O'Keeffe · Post by **Roger O'Keeffe** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 8:19 am

Pretty much the same as a "buck", a "hellraiser" or a "bit of a boyo". From its frequent occurrence in tune names, I would take it to be meant more affectionately (enviously?) than Webster's censorious tone suggests.

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 9:06 am

Kevin L. Rietmann wrote:\Rake\, n. [OE. rakel rash; cf. Icel. reikall wandering, unsettled, reika to wander.] A loose, disorderly, vicious man; a person addicted to lewdness and other scandalous vices; a debauchee; a rou['e].

An illiterate and frivolous old rake. --Macaulay.

That pretty much describes many of us, right?! "Rakish Kevin"

fancypiper · Post by **fancypiper** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 9:54 am

Irish redneck maybe?

Have you ever heard the redneck suicide cry?

"Hey, guys, watch this!"

Chadd · Post by **Chadd** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 12:15 pm

For a dramatic demonstration, rent Dangerous Liaisons. The character played by John Malkovich is an excellent example of a restoration period rake. Not the kind of guy you want your daughter hanging out with.

No E · Post by **No E** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 1:45 pm

Hmmm...Rakish Valmont... just doesn't sound right

-No E

Roger O'Keeffe · Post by **Roger O'Keeffe** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 2:28 am

Rakish Glencnoc?

boyd · Post by **boyd** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:29 am

Rake can also be a verb in Ireland.... & not just a lawncare verb.

To Rake: Wild, fast and irresponsible action eg driving

...the sort of thing your "rednecks" would probably do all the time.

By the way, in Ireland a Redneck is a "culchie"

The equivalent in Scotland is a "choochter" [pronounce 2nd ch as they do in loch]

Boyd

Culchie, and proud of it, sir.

Paul Reid · Post by **Paul Reid** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 9:01 am

One of them there things that done gathers leaves in the fall?

Roger O'Keeffe · Post by **Roger O'Keeffe** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 10:04 am

les rateaux de guimauve

Post by **Nanohedron** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 2:12 pm

If he's a dedicated party animal and does his level best to not keep it in his pants, he's a rake.

djm · Post by **djm** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:39 pm

It was also the custom amongst country dwellers to go, from time to time, for a bit of a ramble to hit as many pubs and hospitable farms as one could find and get rip-roaring drunk, with all the subsequent trouble (craic) one could get into. This was called "going on a rake", and the one who was doing so was called a "rake".

Lots of tunes are named after supposedly memorable binges in various localities, e.g. The Rakes of Westmeath, The Rakes of Mallow, etc. But if it really was that good of a rake, who the hell could remember anything?

djm

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:49 pm

Hey lixnaw,

On your avatar, you have written "Raven's Medicine". The bird on the shield looks more like an anhinga than a raven.

Ted