Annotation:Clout the Caldron (2)

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CLOUT THE CALDRON [2]. Scottish, Air (4/4 time). C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABCC. The title is associated with the metalworker's guild, the Incorporation of Hammermen (see "Clout the Caldron (1)". A note on the manuscript in Skinner's hand reads: "'Bishop Chisholm would have gone to the Scaffold to this famous tune so thoroughly characteristic is it." Allan Ramsay's mildly bawdy lyric "Clout the Caldron" may be found in Thompson's Orpheus Caledoneus, vol. 2 (2nd ed., 1733, Song 25).

Have you any pots or pans,
Or any broken chandlers?
I am a tinkler to my trade,
And newly come frae Flanders.

As scant of siller as of grace,
Disbanded, we've a bad-run;
Gar tell the lady of the place,
I'm come to clout her caldron.
Fa adrie, didle, didle, &c.

Scottish musician and dancing master David Young included the melody with variation sets in his MacFarland Manuscript (c. 1740, No. 43, pp. 86-87), "Written for the use of Walter Mcfarlan of that ilk." See also the precursor tune "Blacksmith and His Apron (The)."

Source for notated version: "Communicated by William Forbes, Newark, Ellon. From an arrangement by John Davidson, Aberdeen" [Skinner]. Forbes also contributed "MacPherson's Rant" to Skinner's Scottish Violinist.

Printed sources: Skinner (Harp and Claymore), 1904; p. 164.

Recorded sources:

See also listing at:
See a standard notation transcription of the melody from David Young's MacFarlane Manuscript (c. 1740) [1]

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