GRUEL

On Springthyme SPRCD 1039
Jock Duncan - Ye Shine Whar Ye Stan!

A favourite comic song about a cantankerous and newly wed weaver whose only desire was to sup his gruel - his porridge of oatmeal. Jock remembers his father humming and singing snatches of the song.

Jock: Ma faither wisna a singer by any means, it's the only een I heard him gaun on wi. But his cousin from ower the hill of Belnagoak, Charlie Duncan, sang it - with his melodeon.

1: Oh there wis a weaver in the north,
And oh but he wis cruel,
For the very first nicht that he wis wad,
He sat an he grat for gruel.
He sat an he grat for gruel,
Oh he couldna want his gruel,
For the very first nicht that he wis wad,
He sat an he grat for gruel.

2: "Oh there's nae a speen in aa the house,
For tae sup your gruel."
"Oh the gairden spad'll dae wi me,
For I maun hae ma gruel.
For I maun hae ma gruel,
Oh I canna want ma gruel;
Oh the gairden spad'll dae wi me,
For I maun hae ma gruel."

3: "Oh there's nae a dish in aa the hoose,
For tae sup your gruel."
"Oh the horse's troch'll dae wi me
For I maun hae ma gruel.
For I maun hae ma gruel,
Oh I canna want ma gruel;
Och! the horse's troch'll dae wi me
For I maun hae ma gruel."

4: She gaed ben the hoose for wine an cakes,
And brocht them ben on a stool,
"Oh gae wa, gae wa wi yer falderals, [i.e. go away
For I maun hae ma gruel.
For I maun hae ma gruel,
Oh I canna want ma gruel;
Oh gae wa, gae wa wi yer falderals,
For I maun hae ma gruel."

5: Oh come aa young lassies and listen tae me,
An dinna mairry a weaver,
The very first nicht that he wis wad,
He sat an he grat for gruel.
He sat an he grat for gruel,
Oh he couldna want his gruel;
For the very first nicht that he wis wad,
He sat an he grat for gruel.

An the very first nicht that he wis wad,
He sat an he grat for gruel.

This song is from the Springthyme CD Jock Duncan: <a href="http://www.springthyme.co.uk/1039/" target="_self">Ye Shine Whar Ye Stan!</a>.

Jock Duncan: Gruel

Springthyme is a record label dedicated to presenting Scotland's living tradition in song and music. Founded in 1974 by musician and singer Pete Shepheard, the label has introduced many fine singers, musicians to the world of recorded music. The very first album was recorded during the weekend traditional music festival held in Kinross in 1973 with musicians including Aly Bain and Tom Anderson and the Shetland Fiddlers and the first recording of ballad singer Stanley Robertson of Aberdeen. Other artistes on Springthyme include Jim Reid, The Foundry Bar Band, Ossian, Jock Duncan, Bill Black, Duncan Williamson, Lizzie Higgins, Jim Crawford, Tom Hughes, John Watt & Davey Stewart, Iain McLachlan and many more including a CD from Pete's own band Shepheard, Spiers & Watson. Springthyme has also issued recordings from their field recordings archive in cooperation with the Musical Traditions label.