Here Norman sings She Was a Rum One learned from Jeannie Robertson the famed Aberdeen traditional singer.  Jeannie was a neighbour and friend of Norman's in Aberdeen. The recording was made at the St Andrews Folk Club in the Star Hotel in 1964 when the singers from the Aberdeen Folk Club were the guests. Jeannie had been a guest a year earlier and had sung the song then to great acclaim - so the audience already knew the song well and join in the chorus with enthusiasm.

1: As I strolled out one May mornin,
One May mornin right early,
It’s there I spied a pretty fair maid.
And she was a rum one
Fal-the-diddle-I-do-ay
But a bonny one
Fal-the-diddle-I-do

2: Now she walked up and she walked down
And I walked close behind her
And I asked of her the reason why
She could not stride no wider.

Chorius:
She was a rum one
Fal-the-diddle-I-do-ay
But a bonny one
Fal-the-diddle-I-do

3: Go away, go away, you foolish young man
Stop that foolish talking
For it little becomes young men like you
Tae pick up young ladies walking.

4: “O I am a docter tae my trade
My freends they call me rare O
If ye’ll tell me far your trouble lies
I'II see fit I can try O.”

5: “Well ma trouble lies between my thighs
And there it is abidin
It tickles me baith nicht and day
And it keeps me fae my stridin.

6: Noo she lay doun upon the bank
And I provided the plaister
When I raised up she cried tae me
“O never end it maister.”

7: Weel, she gied tae me my winter's keep
LIkewise my winter's fairin
But the best thing that she's gied tae me
Was the stablin for my stallion.

Norman Kennedy - She Was A Rum One

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.

Norman Kennedy - She Was A Rum One

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