ADIEU DUNDEE. AKA - "Adew Dundee." AKA and see "Bonnie/Bonney Dundee," "The Hearty Boys of Ballymote," "Laccaroo Boys," "Mary of Castlecary," "Saw Ye My Wee Thing," "The Laccarue Boys" (Ire.). Scottish, March. E Minor. Standard. AABB. A march tune appearing in the fifth part of the Skene MS (a lute MS), c. 1615-1620 (appears as "Adew Dundee"), the Appendix of Playford's Dancing Master of 1688, and O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland. The title comes from a ballad called "Jockey's Escape from Dundee," which ends, "Adieu to bonny Dundee." Gatherer (Gatherer's Musical Museum), 1987; pg. 22. Flying Fish, Robin Williamson - "Legacy of the Scottish Harpers, Vol. 2."
BONNIE DUNDEE [1]. AKA and see "Adew Dundee," "Adieu Dundee," "Bonny Dundee," "The Hearty Boys of Ballymote," "Laccaroo Boys," "The Laccarue Boys," "Mary of Castlecary," "Saw Ye My Wee Thing." Scottish, Jig. G Minor. Standard. AAB. "Bonnie Dundee" is also the name of a Scottish country dance. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; pg. 98 (#167).
BONNIE DUNDEE [2]. Scottish, Jig. G Major (Jarman, Kerr, Miller & Perron, Sweet): A Major (Perlman). Standard. AABB (most versions): AABB' (Perlman). Cited as having been commonly played at country dances in Orange County, New York, in the 1930's (Lettie Osborn, New York Folklore Quarterly). Source for notated version: Johnny Joe and Foncey Chaisson (b. 1918 & 1929, Bear River, North-East Kings County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman]. Jarman (Old Time Fiddlin' Tunes); No. or pg. 17. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 2; No. 307, pg. 34. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddler's Repertoire), 1983; No. 37. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996. Sweet (Fifer's Delight), 1964; pg. 40.
T:Bonnie Dundee
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:G
ded dBd|gfe d2c|BdD BdB|ABA ABc|ded dBd|gfe d2c|BdG AdF|GAG G3:|
|:GGG GcB|ADD D3|AAA ABc|cBA B2G|BAB cBc|dcd edc|BdG AdF|GAG G3:|
BONNY DUNDEE [3]. AKA and see "Jockey's Escape from Dundee," "Adew Dundee." Scottish, English; Air (6/4 time). This popular tune appears in several early 18th century ballad operas, according to Pulver (1923), such as John Gay's ballad opera The Beggar's Opera (1729), where it is parodied under the title "The charge is prepared." The ballad's subject is "The Jockey's Escape from Dundee," but the title is taken from the ending line, which runs "Adieu to bonny Dundee." The original song appears in the various editions of D'Urfy's Pills to Purge Melancholy, however, the air itself was first published in the second appendix to the edition of 1686 (printed in 1688) of Henry Playford's Dancing Master. Kidson (1922) identifies the air as Scottish (but not the "Bonnets of Bonny Dundee" in Orpheus Caledonius, 1725-6); he earlier wrote for Groves that he thought it likely a version of "Adew Dundie" of the Scottish Skene Manuscript. At the end of the 18th century the air was generally used for H. MacNiel's song "Mary of Castlecarey," which begins: "Saw ye my wee thing." See also the related jig version "Bonnie Dundee" [1]. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 68.
BONNIE DUNDEE [4]. Scottish, Reel. A Major. Standard. AA'B. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 4; No. 10, pg. 4.
HEARTY BOYS OF BALLYMOATE/BALLYMOTE. AKA and see "Adew Dundee," "Adieu Dundee," "Bonnie Dundee" [1], "Laccaroo Boys," "Laccarue Boys," "Mary of Castlecary," "Saw Ye My Wee Thing," "Skylark" [3]. Irish, Jig. E Dorian. Standard. AABB. The tune appears in Scottish collections under many of the alternate titles above. An early recording was made by the Flanagan Brothers. Source for notated version: learned from a recording by the Irish group De Dannan by fiddler Jerry Holland (Inverness, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Cranford (Jerry Holland's), 1995; No. 249, pg. 72. Fiddlesticks cass., Jerry Holland - "Lively Steps" (1987). Green Linnett, Jerry Holland - "The Fiddlesticks Collection" (1995). Sugar Hill SU1130, De Danann - "Song for Ireland."
HIGHLAND LADDIE(, THE ORIGINAL) [1]. AKA - "Hielan Laddie." AKA and see "Bonny Laddie," "Clashing At Her," "Donkey Riding," "High Caul'd Cap," "I have two yellow goats" (Ireland), "The Lass of Livingston." Scottish, English, New England; Scotch Measure, Quickstep, March, Polka, or Country Dance Tune (cut time). England, Northumberland. D Major (Kerr, Raven): F Major (Johnson): G Major (Miller & Perron, Vickers): A Major (Emmerson, Gow). Standard. AB (Raven): AABB (Emmerson, Kerr, Seattle/Vickers): ABCD (Johnson): AABBCCDD (Gow). In the Gentleman's Magazine for 1750 that "The Highland Laddie written long since by Allan Ramsay, and now sung at Ranelagh and all the other gardens; often fondly encor'd, and sometimes ridiculously hiss'd," for, as Emmerson (1971) points out, the rising of 1745 of Bonnie Prince Charlie was fresh in the minds of many at the time. However, by the end of the century that memory had dimmed to the extent that Gow noted in his Repository (Part Second, 1802) "The Quick step (sic) of the gallant 42nd Regiment (The Royal Highlanders, or, more popularly, The Black Watch). Performed when the Regiment was reviewed by His Majesty at Ashford, May 7, 1802." It is still played on ceremonial occasions. The melody appears in the Drummond Castle Manuscript (in the possession of the Earl of Ancaster at Drummond Castle), inscribed "A Collection of Country Dances written for the use of his Grace the Duke of Perth by Dav. Young, 1734." John Glen (1891) finds the earliest printing of the tune in Robert Bremner's 1757 collection (pg. 47). Highland Laddie is also the name of a simple step dance which used to be taught to children, and is the name of a Scottish country dance.
***
Numerous sets of words exist to the melody. This was often sung to the pipe tune version:
***
Where ha' ye been a' the day?
Bonnie laddie, Hielan' laddie
Saw ye him that' far awa'
Bonnie laddie, Hielan' laddie
On his head a bonnet blue
Bonnie laddie, Hielan' laddie
Tartan plaid and Hielan' trews
Bonnie laddie, Hielan' laddie
***
Barry Finn reports that the melody was used as a capstan and a 'stamp and go' shanty, and (without the grand chorus) was also used as a halyard shanty. It was popular on the Dundee Whalers, then later used (c. 1830's and 40's) as a work song for stowing lumber and cotton in the Southeastern and Gulf ports of the United States. An older Dundee version goes:
***
Where have ye been all the day, Bonnie Laddie, Hieland Laddie
Where have ye been all the day, my Bonnie Hieland Laddie
***
Chorus:
Way hay & away we go, Bonnie Laddie, Hieland Laddie
Way hay & away we go, my Bonnie Hieland Laddie
***
I did see ye down the glen, Bonnie Laddie, Hieland Laddie
I did not see ye near the burn, my Bonnie Hieland Laddie
***
Chorus
***
No, I was not down the glen, no, I was not near the burn
I joined a ship & went a sailing, sailed far north & went a whaling
***
Shipped on board of a Dundee whaler, shipped on board as a whaling sailor
Bound away to Iceland cold, found much ice but not much gold
***
Greenland is a cold country, it's not the place for you and me
We caught some whales and boiled their blubber, oil and fat choked every scupper
***
I'll be glad when I get home, I'll give up this whaling game.
***
A later shanty called "Donkey Riding" was derived from the tune:
***
Was you ever in Quebec, moving timber on the deck
Where you nearly break your neck, riding on a donkey
***
Finn thinks the shanty probably goes back at least to the 1820's or earlier when the Scottish whalers out of Dundee, Peterhead, & Aberdeen were in their Greenland Fisheries hay-days, chasing the right whale. Source for notated version: Bowie Manuscript, c. 1789 [Johnson]. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 568. Emmerson (Rantin' Pipe and Tremblin' String), 1971; No. 29, pg. 129. Gow (Complete Repository, Part Second), 1802; pgs. 2-3. Johnson (Scottish Fiddle Music in the 18th Century), 1984; No. 1, pg. 22. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 1; No. 5, pg. 21. Miller & Perron (101 Polkas), 1978; No, 95. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 150. Seattle (William Vickers), 1987, Part 2; No. 265 (appears as "Clashing At Her"). Green Linnet SIF 1076, Relativity - "Gathering Place" (1987). Green Linnet SIF 1121, Tannahill Weavers - "The Mermaid Song."
T:The Original Highland Laddie
L:1/8
M:2/4
S:Gow - 2nd Repository
K:A
E|A>Bcc|dB ~c2|cBB A/B/|cBB A/F/|A>B cc|dB ~c>B|AFF E/F/|AFF:|
e|(fa) (ef)|(d/c/)B/A/ {AB}c2|cBB A/B/|cB B>e|fa ea|(d/c/)B/A/ c>B|AFF E/F/|AF~F:|
|:e|a>b c'c'|d'b c'2|c'b~b a/f/|d'b c'>b|af~f e/f/|af~f:|
|:ag|fa ea|(d/c/)B/A/ {AB}c2|cB~B A/B/|cB ~B>e|fa ea|(d/c/)B/A/ c>B|AF~F E/F/|AF~F:|
LACCAROO/LACCARUE BOYS, THE (Na Buacaillide/Buacailli Ua Leacain-Ruad). AKA and see "Adew Dundee," "Adieu Dundee," "Bonnie Dundee" [1], "The Hearty Boys of Ballymote," "Mary of Castlecary," "Saw Ye My Wee Thing." Irish, Double Jig. A Dorian. Standard. AABB. The melody appears in Kerr's First set as a Scottish reel called "Mary of Castlecary," but in its earliest variant can be found in the 5th part of the Scottish Skene Manuscript, dating from c. 1630-1640. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 53. O'Neill (1850), 1979; No. 1007, pg. 188. O'Neill (1001 Gems), 1986; No. 239, pg. 54.
T:Laccarue Boys, The
L:1/8
M:6/8
S:O'Neill - 1001 Gems (239)
K:A Minor
A/G/|EAA A>Bc|BAG B>cd|efe dge|dBG G2 A/G/|
EAA A>Bc|BAG B>cd|efe deg|e>dc/B/ A2:|
|:B/A/|GBd gab|BAG B>cd|eaa a^ga|b>ag/^f/ e2f|
gag gab|BAG B>cd|efe deg|e>dc/B/ A2:|
MARY OF CASTLECARY. AKA and see "Adew Dundee," "Adieu Dundee," "Bonnie Dundee," "The Hearty Boys of Ballymote," "The Laccaroo Boys," "The Laccarue Boys," "Saw Ye My Wee Thing." Scottish, Reel. A Minor. Standard. AAB. See note for "Bonnie Dundee" [3], a melody which dates at least to the early 17th century. The tune can be found in Irish collections set as a double jig called "The Laccarue Boys." The song "Mary of Castlecary" was composed by H. MacNeil, and begins: "Saw ye my wee thing." Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 1; Set 29, No. 4, pg. 18.
SAW YE MY WEE THING. AKA and see "Adew Dundee," "Bonnie Dundee," "The Laccaroo/Laccarue Boys."