2
Allan O' Maut
They stowed him up intil a seck
And o'er the horse-back broke his neck;
Syne birstled they him upon the kiln
Till he was bane-dry for the mill.
They coupit him then into the hopper
And broke his banes, gnipper for gnopper
Syne put the burn until the gleed,
And leepit the een out o' his head.
Till in cam' Barmy-breeks, his brother,
Like ae gude neighbour to crack wi' anither;
Says, "Allan o' Maut, are ye gaun to dee?
Rise up, man, first, and dance wi' me."
They danced about frae hand to hand,
Till they danced o'er the working-stand;
Syne in cam' Jenny wi' her dish,
She gae mony a rummle and rush
And Usquebaugh n'er bure the bell,
Sae bauld as Allan bure himsel'. *The "bell" is the layer of bubbles that float on the surface of whisky. To "bear the bell well" is a sign of good whisky.Take a bottle of whisky and shake it vigorously upside down, you'll see a "head" or layer of bubbles form at the top. The more bubbles, the higher the strength. It was a way of checking for watered down whisky. (Nothing do do with the head on a beer. Those bubbles are caused by gasses... .)
And o'er the horse-back broke his neck;
Syne birstled they him upon the kiln
Till he was bane-dry for the mill.
They coupit him then into the hopper
And broke his banes, gnipper for gnopper
Syne put the burn until the gleed,
And leepit the een out o' his head.
Till in cam' Barmy-breeks, his brother,
Like ae gude neighbour to crack wi' anither;
Says, "Allan o' Maut, are ye gaun to dee?
Rise up, man, first, and dance wi' me."
They danced about frae hand to hand,
Till they danced o'er the working-stand;
Syne in cam' Jenny wi' her dish,
She gae mony a rummle and rush
And Usquebaugh n'er bure the bell,
Sae bauld as Allan bure himsel'. *The "bell" is the layer of bubbles that float on the surface of whisky. To "bear the bell well" is a sign of good whisky.Take a bottle of whisky and shake it vigorously upside down, you'll see a "head" or layer of bubbles form at the top. The more bubbles, the higher the strength. It was a way of checking for watered down whisky. (Nothing do do with the head on a beer. Those bubbles are caused by gasses... .)
3
John Barleycorn
Robert Burns
There was three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
They took a plough and plough'd him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.
But the cheerful Spring came kindly on,
And show'rs began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surprised them all.
The sultry suns of Summer came,
And he grew thick and strong;
His head weel arm'd wi pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.
The sober Autumn enter'd mild,
When he grew wan and pale;
His bending joints and drooping head
Showed he began to fail.
His colour sicken'd more and more,
He faded into age;
And then his enemies began
To show their deadly rage. (more)
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
They took a plough and plough'd him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.
But the cheerful Spring came kindly on,
And show'rs began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surprised them all.
The sultry suns of Summer came,
And he grew thick and strong;
His head weel arm'd wi pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.
The sober Autumn enter'd mild,
When he grew wan and pale;
His bending joints and drooping head
Showed he began to fail.
His colour sicken'd more and more,
He faded into age;
And then his enemies began
To show their deadly rage. (more)
