WORDS & RHYMES
We worked to gather rhymes, words and stories that show us how Scots was and is spoken in Johnshaven and around. We published what we found in a booklet.
RHYMES FROM YOUNG AT HEART CLUB 7TH FEBRUARY
A] Norma, Aberdeen / Johnshaven, 75
1] Auntie Mary hud a canary up the leg of her drawers
It wouldn’t come doon fa half a croon
2] I gave my love a apple / pear / cherry
3] Skinny Malinky Langlegs, umbrella feet
Went to the pictures and fell fast asleep
When the picture started, Skinny Malinky farted
4] One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four
Five potatoes, six potatoes, seven potatoes, more
B] Did not want to give name, Auchenblae
1] Wha saw the tattie howkers
Broomielaw
2] Auntie Mary hud a canary up the leg of her drawers
It wouldna come doon for half a croon
Till doon come Santa Claus
4] The big ship sails
On a cold and frosty mornin
5] Ye canny shove yer grannie
Ither – daddie’s
C] Vera, Aberdeen, 79
1] Wha saw the tattie howkers
2] Auntie Mary hud a canary up the leg of her drawers
She pulled a string, tae mak it sing
And doon cam Santy Claus
3] Skinny Malinky Langlegs, umbrella feet
Went tae the picters and fell through the seat
And when the picter started, Skinny Malinky farted
O, Skinny Malinky Langlegs, umbrella feet
4] Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Haud the cuddy er I get on!
5] Underneath the water, six feet deep
There lies Hitler, fast asleep
A the wee fishes tickle at his feet
Underneath the water, six feet deep
6] Now the War is over, Mussolini’s dead
He wants to go to heaven with a crown upon his head
But the Lord said ‘No! You’ve got to stay below.
All dressed up and nowhere to go’.
7] In and out the dusty bluebells
D] Wilma, Blackburn then the Borders then Arbuthnott then Johnshaven, 75
1] I ken whar ah’m gaun, and I know who’s going with me
2] Auntie Mary hud a canary up the leg of her bloomers
3] Ye canny shove yer grannie off the bus
4] Matthew Mark, Luke and John
Bless the bed that I lie on
Two at my head and two at my feet
And one my soul to keep
5] One potato, two potato, three potato, four
Five potato, six potatoes, seven potato, more
6] I’m a Girl Guide dressed in blue
See all the actions I can do
Stand at ease, bend my knees
Salute to the King and bow to the Queen
(Used for picking who would be ‘it’)
7] Do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man
Do you know the muffin man who lives down Durie Lane
Yes I know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man
Yes I know the muffin man who lives down Durie Lane
(Two lines facing each other, first advances singing than backs, second then advances singing)
E] ?Samdie or Sandie, Inverbervie – Perth – England!, 74
1] I ken whar ah’m gaun, and whose gaun with me
I know who I love, and I know who I’ll marry
2] Auntie Mary hud a canary up the leg of her drawers
Didny come doon for half a croon and doon come Santa Claus
3] Doon in the meadow whaur the green grass grows
Where (Mary Brown) hung out her clothes
4] Skinny Malinky Langlegs, umbrella feet
Went to the pictures but couldna find a seat
When the picture started, Skinny Malinky farted -----
5] Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Hud the cuddy while I get on
Hud it sicker, hud it sair
Hud it by its head o hair
6] One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four
Five potatoes, six potatoes, seven potatoes, more
7] I’m a Girl Guide dressed in blue
See all the actions I can do ----
F] Vallie, Gourdon, 87
1] Wha saw the 42nd, wha saw them ging awa
2] I ken whar ah’m gaun, and I ken gan we me
3] Auntie Mary hud a canary up the leg of her drawers
4] Skinny Malinky Langlegs and umbrella feet
Went to the pictures and couldn’t get a seat
When the pictures started, Skinny Malinky farted
5] Eeenti teenti feg
Ell del domin egg
6] Matthew Mark Luke John
Hide the horse till I get on
G] Lindsey, Inverness / Johnshaven, 70
1] I ken whar ah’m gaun, and I ken fa’s goin wi mi
----, but the Lord knows who I’ll marry
2] Auntie Mary hud a canary up the leg of her drawers
3] Skinny Malinky Langlegs, big banana feet
Went to the doctor’s and couldn’t get a seat
4] Matthew Mark Luke John
Haud the horse till I get on
5] One potato, two potato, three potato, four
H] Alex, Gourdon (Gurdon), 89
1] Fa saw the 42nd
And fa saw them gan awa
??
Marchin doon the Broomielaw
2] Auntie Mary hud a canary up the leg of her drawers
3] Skinny Malinky Langlegs, umbrella feet
Went to the pictures and couldn’t get a seat
When the picture started, Skinny Malinky farted
4] Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Hid the horse till I get on
Hid him siccer, hid him sare
Hud him by the heid of hair
5] One potato, two potato, three potato, four
Five potato, six potato, seven potato, more
I] Hugh, Laurencekirk, 83
1] Skinny Malinky Langlegs, umbrella feet
Wi a nose like a banana and umbrella feet
2] Our wee scale is an affa scale
Aa smeared wi yella plaister
An we daurna brak a rule
Because we’re aa feared o the Heid Maister
(Written by a Laurencekirk pupil, and printed in the school magazine)
J] Joyce, Yorkshire born
1] Here we go round the mulberry bush
K] Karen, Yorkshire, 66
Have you seen the muffin man
He lives down Lightwood Road!
From a domino player on 3rd January
Lintie lintie [lang cam] our cat’s deed
Whit did it die wi, wi a sair heid
Aaa ye that klen her when she wis alive
Cam tae her funeral atween fower an five
FROM BILL WILKIE
What kind a things did your parents sing to you?
There was one that was sung to the tune My Darling Clementine. It was aboot a the old boys that used tae gaither doon at the Chaipel Corner waiting till Grant Ryan to open the thingmy at eleven o clock to get their Sunday Post.
Doon the closie, At the Bothy
Mendin nets wi taurry twine
Jeckie Faurrel, Taurry Barrel,
Jake Young and Clementine
All the people At the Chaipel
Sellin tales o auld lang syne,
Aunnie/Andy Mather Says nae bather
Jake Young and Clementine
They were all local dignitaries you know.
FISHERMAN’S LUCK FROM ??
Naebody ever mentioned pigs - that was bad luck – they were either curly tails or snorkers or whitever. Even salmon. Bit it didnae stop them catchin them. (laughs)
Bit if ye were a fite fisherman, salmon wis bad luck for some reason, it's because salmon can ging between salt and fresh water. I think that's how the thing started.
Cos roond the west coast in Mallaig, they'll nae sell ye a box o Swan matches if they ken ye're a fisherman, because swans are the same, they can ging between saut an fresh.
A rabbit as well, that's bad. The reason for that is – some of them used tae bait their creels wi rabbit – lobster eats the meat, it turns its flesh black. You couldnae sell it. Well, ye could sell it, but the boy that bought it wouldnae be very pleased! With its flesh being black, ye widnae ken what it had done tae it.
Some of them wouldn't take gingerbreid tae the sea. Mebbe somebody had took it for their piece one day and something had happened and they connect that, that's the bad luck, that's the only thing aboard the boat that's hisnae been aboard the boat afore.
Never open a can upsides doon. Andy Cargill used tae help ye open a can upside doon, he would tak the wrapper aff ye so you couldnae see if it wis upsides doon. It wis for fear of the boat capsizin.
They wouldnae put a hatchboard on upsides doon either for the same reason, you could end up capsized.
Couldnae whistle – ye'd bring up the wind. Sodgers whistle, sailors sing.
