Jeannie Hutchison                            SA1980.03.12

These are two verses from a well known Scottish song that dates from around 1736, according to Robert Chambers, the publisher of The Songs of Scotland prior to Burns.  There (p. 396)  he tells us that ‘Jamie’ was the gardener at the home of the Aberdeenshire schoolmaster George Halket who made this song.  Jeannie’s version could well have been learned from the Scottish girls who came to north Shetland as gutters and packers during the herring seasons.  (Roud index no. 1994).  Her second verse is somewhat different from that printed by Chambers as you will see from the extra verses provided below Jeannie’s text.  See also Jeannie’s song I’ll sit on my creepie which uses some of the lines given below.

Oh Logie o’ Buchan, oh Logie the laird, 
They’ve ta’en awa’ Jamie that delved in the yaird;
That played on his pipes and the violin sae sma’,
They ha’e ta’en awa’ Jamie the flower o’ them a’

     But he said, “Think na’ lang lassie though I gang awa’,
     For I’ll come and see you in spite o’ them a’.”

Sandy has siller an’ Sandy has land,
For I’ll…?.. Jimmie because he hes bread;
But I’ll tak my ain lad wi’ his staff in his hand
Before I’ll ha’e him wi’ his siller and land

     And he said , “Think na’ lang lassie though I gang awa’,
     For I’ll come and see you in spite o’ them a’.”        [laughs]

——————

From Chambers’ The Songs of Scotland,   Refrain & verses 2–4.

     He said, Think na lang, lassie, though I gang awa’
He said, Think na lang, lassie, though I gang awa’
For the simmer will come, when cauld winter ‘s awa’
And I’ll come and see thee in spite o’ them a’.

Though Sandie has owsen, and siller, and kye,
A house and a haddin‘, and a’ things forbye,      [A holding]
Yet I wad ha’e Jamie, wi ‘s bonnet in ‘s hand,
Before I ‘d ha’e Sandie wi’ houses and land.
     [Refrain]     

My daddie looks sulky, my minnie looks sour,
They frown upon Jamie, because he is poor ;
But daddie and minnie although that they be,
There ‘s nane o’ them a’ like my Jamie to me.
[Refrain] 

I sit on my creepie, and spin at my wheel,            [A low stool]
And think on the laddie that lo’ed me sae weel ;
He had but ae sixpence – he brak it in twa,
And he gi’ed me the hanf o’t when he gaed awa’.
     Then haste ye back, Jamie, and bide na awa’,
     Then haste ye back, Jamie, and bide na awa’
     The simmer is comin’, cauld winter ‘s awa’,
     And ye ’11 come and see me in spite o’ them a’.