Annotation:Jacky Tar
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JACKY TAR. AKA - "Jackie Tar." AKA and see "Alawon Fy Ngwlad," "Come Ashore," "Come Ashore Jolly Tar with Your Trousers On," "Come Ashore Jolly Tar with Your Trowsers On," "Cuckoo's Nest (4) (The)," "Cuckoo (The)," "Good Ax Elve," "Jack a' Tar," "Jack o Tar," "Mower (The)," "Reaper (The)," "Spealadóir (An)," "Trousers On (The)," "Yellow Heifer (The)." Scottish, English; Hornpipe. E Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Wilson): AABB (most versons). Flett & Flett report there were at least three different Scottish country dances by this name in the early 20th century (from Angus, Perthshire and East Lothian). The tune is played as a reel for American contra dancing. See also Irish versions under the titles "McGibbney's Fancy/McGivney's Fancy", "Nead na Cuaiche" and "Eamonn McGivney's."
The title refers to the generic sailor-man. "The name 'Jack' has long been used with the implication 'typical (young) man', from nursery-rhyme characters to 'Jack Tar' for a sailor, and modern slang phrases like 'I'm all right, Jack' and 'Jack-the-lad'. The murderer who called himself 'Jack the Ripper' had a sinister sense of humour" [Simpson & Roud, Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore, 2000).
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Anderson (Anderson's Budget of Strathspeys, Reels & Country Dances for the German Flute or Violin), c. 1820; p. 13. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 169, p. 99. Craig (The Empire Collection of Hornpipes), c. 1890's; p. 4. Kennedy (Fiddlers Tune Book, vol. 1), 1951; No. 29, p. 15. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 1), c. 1880; No. 24, p. 45. Köhlers’ Violin Repository Part 1, 1881; p. 67. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; p 183 (appears as "Jack A Tar"). Manson (Hamilton’s Universal Tune Book, vol. 2), 1846; p. 12. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 27, p. P6 (appears as "Cuckoo's Nest No. 2"). Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 169. Songer (Portland Collection, vol. 2), 2005; p. 98. Wilson (Companion to the Ball Room), 1816; p. 132.
Recorded sources:
See also listings at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index [2]
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [3]