Annotation:Steer her up and had her gan: Difference between revisions
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''On a mossy bank reclin'd.'' | ''On a mossy bank reclin'd.'' | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
However, the original may have had bawdy lyrics, sanitized by Robert Burns for Johnson's '''Scots Musical Museum''' as Song 504, "O, Steer Her Up, and Haud Her Gaun." An earlier version was printed by Alan Ramsay in '''Tea Table Miscellany''' (1725), copied by Herd into '''Scots Songs''' (1769, p. 181), | However, the original may have had bawdy lyrics, sanitized by Robert Burns for Johnson's '''Scots Musical Museum''' as Song 504, "O, Steer Her Up, and Haud Her Gaun." An earlier version was printed by Alan Ramsay in '''Tea Table Miscellany''' (1725, p. 95), copied by Herd into '''Scots Songs''' (1769, p. 181). Ramsay's lyric is curious, and the supposed bawdiness that might have been in the original song has seemingly been tamed to a maudlin ode to drink (and forgetfulness). | ||
<blockquote> | |||
''Steer her up, and had her gawn,''<br> | |||
''Her Blither's at the mill, jo;''<br> | |||
''But gin me winna tak a man,''<br> | |||
''E'en let her tak her will, jo.''<br> | |||
''Pray thee, lad, leave filly thinking,''<br> | |||
''Call thy cares of love away;''<br> | |||
''Let's our farrows drown in drinking,''<br> | |||
'' 'Tis daftn langer to delay.''<br> | |||
''See that mining glass of claret,''<br> | |||
''How invitingly it looks;''<br> | |||
''Take it aff, and let's have mair o't,''<br> | |||
''Pox on righting, trade, and books.''<br> | |||
''Let's have pleasure while we're able,''<br> | |||
''Bring us in the meikle bowl,''<br> | |||
''Plac't on the middle of the table,''<br> | |||
''And let wind and weather gowl.''<br> | |||
''Call the drawer, let him fill it,''<br> | |||
''Fou, as ever it can hold:''<br> | |||
''O tak tent ye dinna spill it,''<br> | |||
'' 'Tis mair precious far than gold.''<br> | |||
''By you've drank a doze i bumpers,''<br> | |||
''Bacchus will begin to prove,''<br> | |||
''Spite of Venus and her Mumpers,''<br> | |||
''Drinking better is than love.''<br> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
|f_printed_sources=Gow ('''Complete Repository, Part 4'''), 1817; p. 8. McGlashan ('''Collection of Scots Measures'''), 178?; p. 11. Henry Playford ('''A Collection of Original Scotch-Tunes''') 1700; No. 14, p. 6. | |f_printed_sources=Gow ('''Complete Repository, Part 4'''), 1817; p. 8. McGlashan ('''Collection of Scots Measures'''), 178?; p. 11. Henry Playford ('''A Collection of Original Scotch-Tunes''') 1700; No. 14, p. 6. | ||
|f_recorded_sources=Duo Baroque la Tour - "The Last Time I Came O'er the Moor" (2014). | |f_recorded_sources=Duo Baroque la Tour - "The Last Time I Came O'er the Moor" (2014). | ||
|f_see_also_listing=See entry for related song "The Fadgel Hizzy" at the Ballad Index [https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/LyCr2151.html]<br> | |f_see_also_listing=See entry for related song "The Fadgel Hizzy" at the Ballad Index [https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/LyCr2151.html]<br> | ||
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 02:53, 24 September 2022
X:1 T:Steer her up and had her gan M:C| L:1/8 R:Scots Measure B:McGlashan – Collection of Scots Measures (178?) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D af|d2d2f3e|defg a2AG|F2A2A2GF|E2E2 c3e| d2d2f3e|defg a2ga|bagf e2dc|d4D2 :| |: fe|d2A2F3A| dAGA GFED| E2 =c4 E=F| G=FED C2fe| d2A2F3E|DEFG Aagf| efgf ecAc| d4D2 :|
STEER HER UP AND HAD HER GAN. AKA - "Stir her up and hold her ganging." AKA and see "Stolen Kiss (The)." Scottish, Scots Measure (cut time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Charles Gore gives one explanation for the title "Steer her up and had her gan" as having nautical connection, broadly translating as: "Bring her (the boat) up (to wind) and let (hold) her go(ing)." The tune and title are old and both appear in early manuscript collections: the Skene Manuscript (c. 1615-20), the Guthrie Manuscript (c. 1670-1680, p. 299), the Gairdyn Manuscript (1700-1735), and David Young's MacFarlane Manuscript (1740, p. 266). It was printed in London in Henry Playford's collections of the late seventeenth century and in particular in his collection of Scottish dance tunes of 1700.
The melody was also employed as the vehicle for songs. Cellist-composer James Oswald used the tune for his "Stolen Kiss (The)", song No. 2 in "Colin's Kisses" (1742), set to verses by R. Dodsley. It begins:
On a mossy bank reclin'd.
However, the original may have had bawdy lyrics, sanitized by Robert Burns for Johnson's Scots Musical Museum as Song 504, "O, Steer Her Up, and Haud Her Gaun." An earlier version was printed by Alan Ramsay in Tea Table Miscellany (1725, p. 95), copied by Herd into Scots Songs (1769, p. 181). Ramsay's lyric is curious, and the supposed bawdiness that might have been in the original song has seemingly been tamed to a maudlin ode to drink (and forgetfulness).
Steer her up, and had her gawn,
Her Blither's at the mill, jo;
But gin me winna tak a man,
E'en let her tak her will, jo.
Pray thee, lad, leave filly thinking,
Call thy cares of love away;
Let's our farrows drown in drinking,
'Tis daftn langer to delay.
See that mining glass of claret,
How invitingly it looks;
Take it aff, and let's have mair o't,
Pox on righting, trade, and books.
Let's have pleasure while we're able,
Bring us in the meikle bowl,
Plac't on the middle of the table,
And let wind and weather gowl.
Call the drawer, let him fill it,
Fou, as ever it can hold:
O tak tent ye dinna spill it,
'Tis mair precious far than gold.
By you've drank a doze i bumpers,
Bacchus will begin to prove,
Spite of Venus and her Mumpers,
Drinking better is than love.
