Lyr Req: Melville Castle (Alistair MacDonald)

Subject: RE: Alistair MacDonald/Melville Castle Lyrics
From: Jon Whitney
Date: 14 Jul 97 - 05:10 PM

A few years ago I checked out a cassette of Scottish Folk songs from a library. There were a couple of jewels by a singer named Alistair MacDonald. One was Glencoe (found on DT) and the other was "Melville Castle." The chorus went something like this:

Willies gane to Melville Castle, boots an spurs an a'
Tae bid the ladies a' fareweill afor he gaes awa'
Willies young and blythe and bonnie, loved by ane and a'
O what will a' the lassies dae when Willie gaes awa'?

The verses dealt with the lassies' reactions, with about two lasses per verse. Does anyone have the rest of the lyrics? Does anyone know of any other recordings by this guy?

Thanks, Jon

Subject: RE: Alistair MacDonald/Melville Castle Lyrics
From:
Date: 14 Jul 97 - 06:28 PM

For recordings in England, see SINGERS THREE - The McCalmans CBS 52699 (1969) MARY O'HARA'S SCOTLAND EMI GES 1116 (1974) LIVE FROM SCOTLAND - The Corries - Dara PA 027 (1977) Hope this is of asdsistance. bigj

Subject: RE: Alistair MacDonald/Melville Castle Lyrics
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 15 Jul 97 - 06:33 AM

http://box.argonet.co.uk/users/tjde.barry/Discograph.html gives you a discography for Alastair McDonald.

Subject: RE: Alistair MacDonald/Melville Castle Lyrics
From: Murray
Date: 16 Jul 97 - 01:59 AM

The rest of the verses:

The first he met was Lady Kate,
She led him thro' the ha',
And wi' a sad and sorry heart
She let the tear doon fa''
Beside the fire stood Lady Grace,
Said ne'er a word ava;
She thocht that she was sure o' him,
Before he gaed awa'.

Then ben the house cam' Lady Bell,
"Gude troth, ye needna craw,
Maybe the lad will fancy me,
An' disappoint ye a'."
Doon the stair trip't lady Jean,
The flow'r amang them a';
"Oh! lasses, trust in providence,
And ye'll get husbands a'."

When on his horse he rode awa',
They gather'd round the door,
He gaily wav'd his bonnet blue,
They set up sic a war!
Their cries, their tears brought Willie back,
He kiss'd them one an' a',
"Oh! lasses, bide till I come hame,
And then I'll wad ye a'."

Subject: RE: Alistair MacDonald/Melville Castle Lyrics
From: Reiver 2
Date: 15 May 06 - 03:12 PM

I have it on a DVD "Scotland" by native Glaswegian Alex Beaton Check out his website www.alexbraton.com -- it's also probably on one of his many CDs, but I'm not sure which one. Great song.

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: Alistair MacDonald/Melville Castle Lyrics
From: GUEST,Tammy
Date: 15 May 06 - 05:19 PM

The second posting on this thread said 'four recordings in ENGLAND'. Who is this ignoramous?

Subject: RE: Alistair MacDonald/Melville Castle Lyrics
From: Reiver 2
Date: 16 May 06 - 05:24 PM

(Actually it said "For (not four) recordings in England -- but I get your point -- Scotland and England are not the same place.)

I've been listening carefully, and I would make one correction in the lyrics as posted. For the ladies to set up "sic a war" doesn't really make sense and careful listening convinces me it should be "set up sic a roar."

"Cries and tears" understandably may be a result of war, but hardly constitute a war.

Minor point, perhaps, but in the interest os accuracy...."

Reiver 2

Subject: Lyr Add: WILLIE'S GONE TAE MELVILLE CASTLE
From: Jim I
Date: 17 May 06 - 03:27 PM

Just tae pit it a' thegither.

WILLIE'S GONE TAE MELVILLE CASTLE

Chorus:        
Oh! Willie's gone tae Melville Castle,
Boots and spurs an' a'
Tae bid the lassies a' fareweel
Afore he gaes awa'
Willie's young and blithe and bonny
Lo'ed by ane an' a'
Oh! What will a' the lassies dae
When Willie gangs awa'?

The first he met was Lady Kate
She led him through the ha'
An' wi' a sad and sorry hairt
She let the tears doon fa'
Beside the fire sat Lady Grace
Said ne'er a word ava'
She thocht that she was sure o' him
Afore he gaed awa'

Then ben the hoose cam' Lady Belle
"Guid troth, ye neednae craw
Maybe the lad will fancy me
An' disappoint ye a'"
Then doon the stair tripped Lady Jean
The floo'er amang them a'
"Oh! Lassies trust in providence
An' ye'll get husbands a'"

Then on his horse he raced awa',
They gaithered roon' the door
He gaily wav'd his bonnet blue;
They set up sic a roar.
Their cries an' tears brocht Willie back
He's kissed them ane an' a'
"Oh! Lassies bide till I get hame
An' then I'll wed yez a'"

Subject: Tune Add: MELVILLE CASTLE
From: MMario
Date: 17 May 06 - 04:04 PM

X:1
tune submitted by John-in-Brisbane

T:MelVille Castle
M:2/2
L:1/8
K:C
Q:1/4=200
z6G2|E G3G3A|G2A2c2G2|A2G2A2c2|d6G2|
w:_ Wil-lie's gane to Mel-ville Cas-tle,boots an spurs an a'Tae
E2G2G2A2|G2Ac- c3A|G2e2e3d|c6e2-|e e3d2c2|
w:bid the lad-ies a' fare-weill_ a-for he gaes a-wa' Wil_-lie's young and
A2G2A c3|G3A c2e2|d6D2|E3G G3A|G2A2c2A2|
w:blythe and bon-nie,loved by ane and a'O what will a' the las-sies dae when
G e3e3d|c6G2|E G3G3A|G2A2c2G2|A2G2A2c2|
w:Wil-lie gaes a-wa'?The first he met was La-dy Kate, She led him thro' the
d6G2|E2G2G2A2|G2Ac- c3A|G2e2e3d|c6e2|
w:ha',And wi' a sad and sor-ry heart_ She let the tear doon fa''Be
e e3d2c2|A2G2A c3|G3A c2e2|d6D2|E3G G3A|
w:-side the fire stood La-dy Grace, Said ne'er a word a-va; She thocht that she was
G2A2c2A2|G e3e3d|c6z2
w:sure o' him, Be-fore he gaed a-wa'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Melville Castle (from Alistair MacDonald)
From: GUEST,NeilH
Date: 31 May 06 - 04:06 PM

Also recorded on 'Singers Three' (1969 CBS 52699 LP) by the McCalmans.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Melville Castle (Alistair MacDonald)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Dec 07 - 09:05 PM

Lyrics and music of WILLIE'S GANE TO MELVILLE CASTLE are given in the book Scottish Song: Its Wealth, Wisdom, and Social Significance by John Stuart Blackie, 1889.

The lyrics are very close to what Jim I posted above.

Scottish song its wealth, wisdom, and social significance By John Stuart Blackie