Digital Tradition Mirror

Torn a' Ma Goon

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Torn a' Ma Goon

cho: He's torn a', ripped a', torn a' ma goon,
     He's torn a', ripped a', torn a' ma goon,
     He's torn a', ripped a', torn a' ma goon,
     Did ever ye see sic an ill-trickit loon?

O the broon coo's broken oot an' eaten a' the corn,
The broon coo's broken oot an' eaten a' the corn,
O the broon coo's broken oot an' eaten a' the corn,
If she disnae eat it a' the day she'll eat it a' the morn.

O the black bu's broken oot an' bullied a' the kye,
The black bu's broken oot an' bullied a' the kye,
O the black bu's broken oot an' bullied a' the kye,
If he disnae bu' them a' the day he'll bu' then by and by.

O, she widna dae't, she widna dae't, she widnae dae't ava,
In bed or oot the bed or up agin the wa',
O, but she did it on the pantry flair, the best ye ever saw --
She hotchit up her petticoat and cried, "Ca' awa!"

Recorded by The Friends of Fiddler's Green on "This Side of the
     Ocean." They learned it from Jimmy McBeath of Morayshire.
     McBeath described this as a children's song, and --
     despite its bawdy content -- he is probably right. The
     constant stream of alliteration and assonance would seem
     to assure that. And Remember, this is a SCOTTISH song!  RW

glossary: a': all (but in the chorus probably short for awa'=away)

agin: against ava: at all

broon: brown bu' (noun): bull

bu' (verb): see "bullied" bullied: performed the proper
     function of a bull (ahem!)

ca' awa: come away="go ahead!"

coo: cow

dae't: do it

disnae: does not

flair: floor

goon: gown

hotchit: hoisted

ill-trickit: badly-behaved

kye: cows

loon: fool, common person, boor, lout, bumpkin

oot: out

sic: such

wa': wall

widna: would not

tune: first section of Mason's Apron
RW

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!