Lyr Req: Jock MacGraw

Subject: Jock MacGraw
From: GUEST,Bud Savoie
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 02:37 PM

Some months ago, soneone was trying to find a recording of "Jock MacGraw". I have an old recording of it somewhere, but I could never get the words quite straight. The chorus goes "The wind may blaw, the cock may craw, the rain may fa' and the snaw may snaw, But ye winna frechten Jock MacGraw, He's the stootest mon in the Forty-twa." Anyone have the lyrics?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock MacGraw
From: GUEST,Bud Savoie
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 09:08 AM

Refresh. C'mon, now, you folks. I know ther are just zillions of Tcheltic music enthusiasts out there. Suppose I give you the first verse: "Behold, I am a sojer bold and only twenty-five years old. A braver warrier never was seen Frae Inverness tae Gretna Green."

Subject: Lyr Add: JOCK MACGRAW
From: Jon W.
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 12:12 PM

One version in the DT is here.

The version I have heard differs but little:

Jock MacGraw

Behold, I am a soldier bold,
and only twenty five years old,
a braver warrior never was seen,
frae Inverness tae Gretna Green.

When I was young, my father said,
he would put me tae a decent trade,
but I did na' like the job at a',
so I went and joined the Forty-Twa.

Chorus:
The wind may blaw, the cock may craw,
the rain may rain and the snaw may snaw,
But you wid'na frighten Jock MacGraw,
he's the stoutest man in the Forty-Twa

The sergeant, when he 'listed me,
he winked his e'e and then says he:
A man like you sae stout and tall,
Can ne'er be killed by a cannonball

The captain then, when he cam round,
he looked me up and looked me down,
Then turning to the sergeant, "Why you scamp,
you've 'listed the bleachfield, out 'n' tramp."

Chorus

At our last fecht, across the sea,
the general, he sends after me,
When I get there, and my big gun,
Of course, the battle, it was won.

The enemy all run awa',
they were feared at the likes o' Jock MacGraw,
A man like me, sae tall and neat,
Ye ken yoursel' he could never be beat.

Chorus

The King then held a grand review,
we numbered a thousand and sixty two,
The Kilty lads come marchin' past,
and Jock MacGraw come marchin' last.

The royal party grab their sticks,
and a' began to stretch their necks,
Crys the king to the colonel, "Upon my soul,
I took that man for a telegraph pole."

Chorus

From "25 Scottish Favorites" (Cassette)
Singer unknown

The most obscure part of this is the line about the bleachfield. A bleachfield is a field where linen was laid out to bleach in the sun, therefore the line simply alludes to a large object.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock MacGraw
From: GUEST,Bud Savoie
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 03:33 PM

Thanks, Jon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock MacGraw
From: Timehiker
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 03:43 PM

Jon, The recording I have has the same lyrics. The version I've heard around campfires is a little different in one verse.

The officer, when he came 'round He looked me up then looked me down. Then said to the sergeant, well I guess, You've 'listed the beastie o' Loch Ness.

Take care, Timehiker

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock MacGraw
From: Jon W.
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 04:49 PM

The Loch Ness lyric is the one in the DT and I suppose it would be a lot more intelligible to the modern audience.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock MacGraw
From: GUEST,T. Mac
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 09:33 AM

The bleachfield line appears to refer to the power of the such a "field," or works, which were extremely common in various parts of Scotland in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries. The idea, then, would be that in enlisting Jock (the "tramp"), the sergeant enlisted the power not just of a man but of a bleachfield. It's like saying he got an industrial works or hydro plant.

This specific reference, no doubt obscure to most contemporary listeners, has the virtue of historic significance. It's also funnier than the Loch Ness beastie alternative, which relies on an unfortunate, very tired cliche.

Cheers,

T. Mac

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock MacGraw
From: Jim McLean
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 10:12 AM

I think the 'beastie o' Loch Ness' was a Jimmie Macgregor innovation.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock MacGraw
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 12 - 11:35 PM

Harry Lauder sang, "I've just come brae a weddin', a chrsistenin'",a funeral, or a somethin" o" the sort, and the stuff that they were servin's got me noodle. Oh, me name is Jock Mcgraw, and I dinna care a straw, for there's somehtin' in the bottle for the mornin'"

And I'd dearly like to get a recording of Lauder's songs. I somewhat learned a few of them back in the thirties as a kid.

"Over in the trenches up to their eyes in clay, jimmy and john are fighting there and shouting every day, Keep your head down, Fritzy Boy, Keep your head down, Fritzy boy. late last night in the pale moonlight I saw you, I saw you,if you want to see your father in the fatherland, Keep your head down, Fritzy boy!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock MacGraw
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 10:45 AM

Ye aw ken ma wee brither a his name is Jock McGraw.
He's lately jined a fitba' club, fir he's mad aboot fitba.
He's got twa black een already, an teeth knocked frae his gub*.
Since oor Jock becam a member o', that terrible fitba club.

*gub. Glasgow slang for mouth.