Harriet Sandison                                      SA 1971.218.6 

Harriet  said this song used to be sung ‘tae the bairns’ and the words seem to be known only in Whalsay, though the tune used  is very like the first part of the Scots song called The Ewie with the Crooked Horn. Harriet makes this a fine performance with her trained voice.  She admitted she could not tell me much about the lullaby except that it was collected by Robert Irvine (Robbie a’ Linthoose)  an keen local historian and collector of folklore who was the island’s taxi driver and formerly a lighthouse keeper.  (Roud index no. 25924)

I wonder if someone else in Whalsay can provide an interpretation of the verses or tell us  more about the origins of the song.

Dams I keen I’m hed a moarnin, dams I keen I’m hed a pu:
Dams I keen I’m hed a moarnin,  seekin doctors to me coo.
Rise Baabie, haste dee Baabie, haste dee and come wi me noo,
The bosun’s lady is sitten greeting, the fairies hev shot her only coo

I landed at the sands of Quea, I took me fit intae me hand:
I like a born fool göd up through aa the corn land.
Rise Baabie, haste dee Baabie, haste dee and come wi me noo,
The bosun’s lady is sitten greeting, the fairies hev shot her only coo

I ran east and I ran west and I ran roond aboot da hill:
I set me at the barn to rest me and Katy dang me at da kill.
Rise Baabie, haste dee Baabie, haste dee and come wi me noo,
The bosun’s lady is sitten greeting, the faires hev shot her only coo

I cam in to Baabie Murray, she wis sitten at da fire:
I cam in at sic a stir I set the woman in a ire.
Rise Baabie, haste dee Baabie, haste dee and come wi me noo,
The bosun’s lady is sitten greeting, the fairies hev shot her only coo.