Irish/Scottish folk song

Entropy · Post by **Entropy** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:18 pm

Hey all, I'm hoping someone here will be able to help me identify a song I heard awhile back. The recording that I've got is by a band called Poison Dwarf, which I saw at last year's Williamsburg Scottish Festival. Unfortunately, the CD doesn't have an insert listing song titles or contact info. The song tells the story of a man named Donald MacGalifree (sp?) who seems to be going to war with King James. Any ideas?

Thanks

colomon · Post by **colomon** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:29 pm

Try "Donald McGillavry".

Entropy · Post by **Entropy** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:39 pm

Wow! Much thanks!

ChaoticGemini · Post by **ChaoticGemini** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:25 am

ooh that's a fun song I haven't heard in a while. Now I have to go find it.

AaronMalcomb · Post by **AaronMalcomb** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 2:34 am

Entropy wrote: The song tells the story of a man named Donald MacGalifree (sp?) who seems to be going to war with King James. Any ideas?

Donald MacGillivray. Good call, colomon. But the title character is fighting for King James, not against. It's a Jacobite tune, Jacobus being the Latin form of the name James. The song features lines like "Here's tae King James" and "Up wi' King James." You'd be hard-up to find Scottish folks songs sung in opposition to the Jacobite cause.

Silly Wizard did an excellent live performance of the song.

Cheers,
Aaron

BigDavy · Post by **BigDavy** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 6:22 am

Hi Aaron

Thanks for the tunes& Snips in clips, I enjoyed it.

For a good anti Jacobite song try this:-

http://www.dickalba.demon.co.uk/songs/texts/nogods.html.

David

weaselwhistle · Post by **weaselwhistle** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 7:41 am

Donald McGillavry is not a Jacobite song. It's actualy a clever 18th c. fake.
It's still very fun, especially with O'Neill's Cavalry March tagged onto the end, like Silly Wizard.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:29 am

Although I know the song well from Silly Wizard and other sources, this thread had me diving in my Scottish collection again. Actually, the name 'McGillavry' has several spellings and I was wondering if the spelling was consistent between versions.

AaronMalcomb · Post by **AaronMalcomb** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 2:48 pm

weaselwhistle wrote:Donald McGillavry is not a Jacobite song. It's actualy a clever 18th c. fake.

I'm sure a lot of "Jacobite" songs are about as genuine as MacPherson's "Ossian." The inspiration is real but it's just been given an antique finish.

I'm glad you enjoyed the tunes, David.

Cheers,
Aaron

weaselwhistle · Post by **weaselwhistle** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 3:09 pm

Ossian (both the poem and the group) is enjoyable too.
I have heard that among it's admirers was a certain N. Bonaparte.
DM is one of my favorite Scottish songs, and probably caprtures the conservatism of the Highalnds better than most.

brianholton · Post by **brianholton** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:13 am

The text of Donald McGillivray was written by James Hogg (aka "The Ettrick Shepherd") and published in his book Jacobite Relics.

I lived near Ettrickbridge for a good few years, a few miles down the valley from Hogg's old stamping grounds. A bonnie bit of the world....

brian

cowtime · Post by **cowtime** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:38 pm

I love this tune!!!!

I first heard it 20plus years ago sung acapella at a celigh at the games on Grandfather Mt. Then I found the music/words and liked it even more.
But this tune really brings to mind-

At the time I had a litter of Skye puppies and one was named Donald McGillavry because he was such a fun guy. He was such a facinating dog that I kept him his entire life even though he did not have the show conformation of some of his other littermates. Shown only occasionaly as a point maker, he always almostbeat the better dogs, usually going reserve winners dog- simply on personality. It was always funny watching the judges agonize(litterally) over placing him. He was just so full of himself and life! The judges were drawn to him sheerly on personality and "showmanship".
I always said if I'd had his outlook on a well built dog he couldn't have been stopped. Donald was a great dog.

Lyrics-

http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe ... avry.shtml

amar · Post by **amar** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:06 am

http://yar.hole.ru:8080/Music/music.htm --> quite an amazing mp3 site. you'll find the tune here among others.

Entropy · Post by **Entropy** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 10:34 am

Thanks. Would anyone happen to know where I might be able to find the sheet music or tab for it?

AaronMalcomb · Post by **AaronMalcomb** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:13 am

I'm pretty sure I saw that song in a Ewan MacColl book. Try Folk Songs As Ballads Of Scotland.

Cheers,
Aaron

Chiff and Fipple Forums

Irish/Scottish folk song

Irish/Scottish folk song

Re: Irish/Scottish folk song

Anti Jacobite Songs