Origins: McCallum's Lament / McAllum's Lament

Subject: Lyr Add: MCCALLUM'S LAMENT / MCALLUM'S LAMENT
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 10:16 AM

found this posted (also some variants) at [ Springthyme Scottish Music Forum

Anyone have a tune?

In the Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection (Vol2/251) as McAllum's Lament. Also recorded versions from Willie Stewart, Springfield (68 .1. 29) and from Martha (Peasie) Reid, Birnam 30 June 1967 (67.4.16). See also MacCallum's Lament in Tocher 12 (1973-74) pp 152-156.

MCCALLUM'S LAMENT / MCALLUM'S LAMENT

Farewell to the woods and the hills o Strathspey,
To the black woods o Tulloch farewell for aye;
To Nithy's sweet murmur I'll listen no more,
Nor scour the dark forests of gloomy Glenmore.

Farewell to the grouse, to the roe and the deer,
They'll now roam at pleasure, McAllum's not near;
In hunting them down I had my own share,
No keepers who knew me approach me would dare.

Until daring bluecoats my house did assail,
To frighten them off no words would avail,
In an unguarded moment brave King I shot dead,
I was always a lover of powder and lead.

Black, black was the day I first handled the gun,
The powers of hell had already begun,
The scenes of my youth I will ne'er see again,
The prayers of my parents were uttered in vain.

Black, black was the day they first handed me o'er,
To be chained like a dog and remembered no more,
My curse on the lairds, their game laws and all,
They accomplished my ruin and hastened my fall.

All poachers take a warning, be guided by me,
Lay aside your guns while you're able and free,
To enjoy life's blessing and work for your bread,
Of McAllum think sadly long after he's dead.

Subject: Tune Add: MCALLUM'S LAMENT
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 10:55 AM

There are two examples in Greig-Duncan; the text above is 251B, and came from J.W. Spence. 251A, from Mrs Cruickshank, is tune and one verse, as follows:

X:1
T:MCALLUM'S LAMENT
S:Mrs Cruikshank
Z:Gavin Greig
B:Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, vol.II no.251A p.246.
N:Roud 5847
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
M:3/4
K:G
d2|d2 c2 B2|B4 G A|B2 G3 E|D
w:Fare-well to the hills and the dells of Strath-spey,
B, C|D2 E2 F2|G d3 d2|d3 c B2|A4
w:To the dark woods of Tul-loch fare-well and for aye;
d2|d2 c2 B2|B2 G2 GA|B2 G3 E|D4
w:To Neth-y's sweet mu-mur I'll_ lis-ten no more,
B,C|D2 E2 F2|G d3 d2|B2 G2 A2|G4|]
w:Nor_ scour the dark for-est of gloom-y Glen-more.


Note Nethy, not Nithy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: McCallum's Lament
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 11:05 AM

Malcolm - I should have known you'd have this. thank you!

Subject: Origins: McCallum's Lament / McAllum's Lament
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Dec 18 - 02:25 PM

Traditional Ballad Index entry:

McAllum's Lament

DESCRIPTION: McAllum, a poacher, bids farewell to the woods and the game he hunted. He had been trapped by police and shot one man dead. He curses the lairds and laws and warns poachers to "lay aside your guns while you're able and free"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1914 (GreigDuncan2)
KEYWORDS: homicide poaching prison police
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
GreigDuncan2 251, "McAllum's Lament" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Roud #5847
File: GrD2251

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Subject: RE: Origins: McCallum's Lament / McAllum's Lament
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 24 - 03:03 AM

I am Allan McCallums great granddaughter and I have a tune to go with his words my email address is [e-mail]