| ANSTER TRACKS |
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Songs about life In An Aroon Anster
1 The East Neuk o Fife
Jack Cockroft Chorus Frae Fife Ness tae Largo Law There's nae place that's half sae braw As where the bonnie touns lie Beside the Firth of Forth There's nae lassies half sae fair There's nae ladies can compare Wi' those who spend their life In the East Neuk of Fife Crail wi its harbour there Cellardyke and Anster fair The Billowness where lassies dream O courting lads frae Pittenweem St Monans where the auld kirk stands And Elie with its golden sands There's nae place at aw Like the East Neuk o Fife Chorus Cauld though the East winds blow Oer the wild sea comes the snow The friendly folk still cheerful bide By each blazin ingleside May Isle wi it's cheerful light Keeps shinin out sae clear and bright Tae guide the boats tae harbour In the East Neuk o Fife Chorus Kinneuchar wi its curlin loch Carnbee and Arncroach Balcomie whar the gowfers play Lookin ower the Firth of Tay Kilrennie wi its couthie farms Dunino, Boarhills and Kingsbarns There's nae place at aw Like the East Neuk o Fife Chorus |
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| 2 Thar She Blows Jennifer Gordon Sitting here in Pittenweem, I allowed myself to dream of a whaler with nerves of steel, breaking through the ice with a sturdy keel. Let the north wind blow with all it's might and we'll reach the pole by the end of the night. Raise the sails, hoist the flag, there she blows boys, it's in the bag. And we'll return to the port of Leith, each with a flower between his teeth, for the lovers on the quay and put salty kisses where tears used to be. 3 Scandinavian High (Except for maybe in the East) Jim Hall There’s a high over Scandinavia and you’d think that would mean a lot But the way that I’m feeling on this beach is not exactly what you’d call hot The weatherman said, twenty seven degrees So why am I shivering, with the water hardly up to my knees? Scandinavian high, why am I feeling so low And if it doesn’t get better, I think we’ll pack up and go And while the rest of the country melts away with a heat so hard to resist We can only snuggle up together for warmth underneath this blanket of mist The weatherman said, everywhere will be fine Except for maybe in the east where I doubt if you’ll see the sun shine Scandinavian high, why am I feeling so low And if it doesn’t get better, I think we’ll pack up and go Scandinavian high, why am I feeling so low And if it doesn’t get better, I think we’ll pack up and go The weatherman said, people may die from the heat So why am I left wondering why my ice cream’s as cold as my feet? Scandinavian high, why am I feeling so low And if it doesn’t get better, I think we’ll pack up and go Scandinavian high, why am I feeling so low And if it doesn’t get better, I think we’ll pack up and go 4 Mary Walks Andy Shanks Mary walks to see the mountains Far away and west of here Remembers days of horse and harness The sound of early morning gear. Out amang the stoor and clatter Swinging lamps out to the byre Singing songs to sooth the cattle Smoke drifts up from early fires. As Mary walks and Mary sings And Mary walks and Mary sings… Of home Heavy horses spark the cobbles Breathing mist into the air Mary fills the byre with laughter As the dew falls on her hair. Doing what her mother told her She swings her lamp out from the byre Its aye the outsides keep the insides We’re spinning gold from dub and mire. Sitting here in far Bonervie Watching boats out on the bay She minds o’ horse and kye and clatter As the clouds drift owre the Isle o’ May 5 La Magnifica James Yorkston What would you say, if I offered this all up, to move, like a wreck, to the neuk? With a room for your art, and a room for your tunes, and a promise, we both kept, never to leave. just say the word.. You can't manufacture love, build a flutter out of paper, hoodwink my heart, sure you wouldn't know where to start. so i, i can say without fear, just catch my eye, in a certain way, and we'll be out of here. just say the word... 6 Wullie’s Back Frae Yarmouth Margot Cook Wullie’s back frae Yarmouth, he’s comin’ hame the day His boat sails up the winter Firth, ploughin’ the saut sea spray Oor hoose is clean frae end tae end, and the bairns are oot tae play A man maun hae his welcome hame, when he’s been twelve weeks away He’s been twelve weeks away by noo, and I love my Wullie dear I can hear his buits comin’ up the wynd, soon oor hoose’ll ring wi cheer He’ll hae dolls for the lassies, a bike for the lad and cheenie plates for me And the nicht the crew come roond for their share and an eightpence pie tae their tea He sails hame bricht on a Friday nicht, for a wee while by my side Then as share as daith there’s herrin’ in the Firth and he’s up and awa’ wi the tide We live our lives by the tides of the sea, keep a weather e’e on the sky And we lippen on the Lord in times o’ need tae keep oor courage high We a’ work hand in hand wi oor men, to mend the nets and gear Getting’ ready for the winter herrin’ at the turnin’ o the year I’ve knitted Wull a split new gansie, I like tae keep him braw Wi a shift in his back and five in the kist each time he sails awa’ The Yarmouth fishin’ starts again at the back end o’ the year And when the gless draps low and the winds blaw high, oor hearts are filled wi fear We pray to the Lord to guard them a’, and we hope the yields go weel And then we pray again for the boat and the men and the skipper at the wheel 7 Pulling up Creels King Creosote where were your thoughts when the waves pulled you down? i'm sitting on these seaweed rocks feeling damp inside and out the sun behind the cliff tops is still shining out to sea they're pulling up creels and feeding the gulls that are floating so high compared to their catch of the day. further out must be denmark what a pity i'd have preferred exotic islands, pirate bones and clear blue waters white-toothed natives eating missionaries anything but this beautiful view and the lonliest thought that there's no more like you. where were your thoughts when the waves pulled you down i'm feeling damp inside and out. 8 The Floo’er o’ Anster Toon Matt Armour King James, the Gaberlunzie Man Would roam his country roond He found the Dreel in raging spate As he cam’ bye oor toon. The fisher lassie bore him ower And set him on dry ground. And he gi’ed the Beggar’s Benison Tae the floo’er o’ Anster Toon. The floo’er o’ Anster Toon The floo’er o’ Anster Toon In the Kingdom fair, nane can compare Wi’ the floo’er o’ Anster Toon Rab the Ranter chanced herebye Heading tae the fair Met Maggie Lauder on the road Atween Pittenweem and here. Wis it a chanter he pu’ed oot Tae play sic a bonnie tune That caused the knees and thighs to crack O’ the floo’er o’ Anster Toon? Chorus The Makar o’ this wee-bit sang Has his ain tale has tae tell For a rose did grow by Dreelside And, vow, he kent her well. So, sit ye by the harbour heid And cast your gaze aroond A passer-by might catch your eye Your ain floo’er o’ Anster Toon. 9 Guiding Light, Evening Star Scott Murray Chorus: Guiding Light and the Evening Star Spes Malore and the Anster Belle Nae boats noo doon at the harbour But aye, Ah mind on them weel In darkness ye'd look ower the Forth Tae see the boats by their lichts Awa tae the east o the May Like a toon lit up in the nicht An ye kent the sabbath was endin When ye heard the buits o the men Cam doon the wynd tae the harbour - Time for the fishin again Ye thocht on the man who was lost Ta'en frae his boat by a wave Pit back on deck by anither We thanked the Lord he was saved There's nae drifter noo, nae trawlers Ye're nearer tae Dogger at Shields They've telt me a the guid reasons It's tae dae wi siller an yields 10 The Anster Bienvenidos Gifford Lind An Anster man Stood on the land Looking out at the cold North Sea Heard a sailor cry From a boat going by Echamos el ancla aqui? Echamos el ancla aqui? Echamos el ancla aqui? Should we anchor here? He said Echamos el ancla aqui? It was a hungry man From a foreign land With a look of fear in his eye He was the Duke of Medina Sedonia He waved and I heard him cry Podemos quedarmos aqui? Podemos quedarmos aqui? Can we all stay here? He said Podemos quedarmos aqui? So I gave him a shout And soon found out That the Spannish Armada was here With a welcoming grin I waved them in And heard the Spaniards cheer Si Si nos quedamos aqui Si Si nos quedamos aqui Yes yes we’re staying here they cried Si Si nos quedamos aqui Twas a time in the land When protestant hands Were pulling the churches down And many would rant And say you cant Bring a papish crew tae yer toun There were meetings and talks And the Anster folk Asked God what should they do In the name of Christian charity They welcomed the Spanish crew Who cried Aqui estamos a salvo Aqui estamos a salvo We’re safe in here, they said with a cheer Acqui estamos a salvo Now the Duke of Medina Sedonia Sailed back to Spanish shores His money box stayed in Anster toun Muchas gracias por todo And for many years When Anster men Sailed off to Spanish shores The Duke of Medina’s welcome was Que sean bienvenidos Que sean bienvenidos Que sean bienvenidos Give welcome to our Anster friends, Que sean bienvenidos 11 Stepping Out At Midnight Kirk McGeachy Steppin out at midnight out along the old stone pier With just the wind for company, the ocean in my ear The moon is rising high above the raging Northern Sea With no-one in this lonely place but me So silent in the falling night the gulls they wheel and glide Lights of port and starboard dancing circles on the tide Nets and gear are stowed below, hatches battened down Turn her head to face the fishin grounds The Crimond and the Minnie Wood are heading out to sea Harvest Reaper, Ocean Spray, familiar names to me Following their fortunes through starry skies above Off to reap the harvest of the sea The lights are fading gently in the windows on the shore The east wind begs forgiveness as it whistles round my door Huddled in the darkness wives and children deep in dreams As night like velvet falls upon our dreams I wish I was that fisherman out rocked upon the deep Hunting for the silver shoals when all the world's asleep Untroubled by the brooding sky, the restless sea his love Protected by his trust in faith above The bright lights of the great big city they lured me far away I landed in a distant place, I never thought I'd stay But the windswept shore, the ocean's roar were never far from me They always brought me back down to the sea 12 A Night Johnny Lynch I think maybe I write songs way too late at night I stay awake for as long as possible Waiting for an idea to stir inside Instead I just become incredibly tired And wait through these hours Before I close my eyes Even in this state i'll wait A good ten minutes in a darkness that's self made Until I reach out Reach out and switch off the light; Turn towards a blood-red beam burning through my eyes Before, before, before I fall asleep. I've had this dream for a while now Where I'm standing on a wall in Cellardyke Harbour I've climbed all on my own And I stare out to sea. It isn't long before The cracks start to show My smile begins to fade And the thrill slowly wane On ground unknown my feet break stone And angers me, endangers me I slip and I scrape Down all I've climed before Before, before. 13 A Dyker’s Compliments To Her Neebors Scott Murray Keep yer ain fish guts tae yer ain sea maws Ainster daws, tattie shaws Keep yer ain fish guts tae yer ain sea maws Lyin amang the deid craws An wha's acht you ma bonnie lass That moved here in the simmer Ah kent yer faither at the scale A torn-ersed Pittenweemer Ye lookin at me, ye Ainster daw Ah'll cowp ye in a dub sir An wha cried ye a partan face An ye sae like a lobster What's that ye're sayin, ah canna tell Ye styupit shilpit moaner Ye're no frae here, ah'm shair o that Ye're a St. Minnens droner Ye can keep yer Crail, yer Pittemweem Yer Ainster and St Minnens Daft dykers what ye ca us aa Awa back hame, guid riddence 14 The Sea and the Land Margot Cook All alone in the early light She walked upon the sand And before her lay the shimmering sea And behind her lay the land She dreamed of how her life might be Would she wear a golden band But her lover he was born to the sea And she born to the land Her father said she must not wed Her fisherman so strong Mending nets and baiting lines For her was surely wrong His kin would not accept her And she must understand She would live her life as a farming wife And learn to work the land So they met at night by the lantern moon And wandered hand in hand The velvet night caressed them As they loved upon the sand They were cast adrift on a rising tide Which neither could withstand And the wanton breeze stirred the restless seas And a seed sprung in the land Already she could feel the babe That stirred beneath her breast She had kept her secret from him When he sailed far to the west Ah but he’d come back and marry her That was what they planned They would live on the harvest of the sea And the harvest of the land A keening moan on the western wind When she walked upon the strand And she knew from deep within her soul That he’d never come to land All alone in the early light No ring upon her hand Her love was asleep in the cold cold deep So she turned to work the land 15 East Neuk of Fife Jim Hall Oh how my heart is aching, to be where you are I know the road I’m taking, it’s not too far Soon I’ll be home with you love, to pick up my life I know you’re waiting there love, in the East Neuk of Fife I think of it every morning, and how it will be Feeling the time that’s coming, waiting for me Never have been so lonely, in all of my life Dreaming I’ll soon be going, to the East Neuk of Fife How many roads I’ve travelled, and places I’ve seen None of them ever like home to me, nowhere I’ve been Never have been so lonely, in all of my life Dreaming I’ll soon be going, to the East Neuk of Fife How many roads I’ve travelled, and places I’ve seen None of them ever like home to me, nowhere I’ve been 16 Dark Eppie Matt Armour In the toon of Anster, in years so long away Lived a wife called Auld Eppie at the fit o’ the brae. Some said she had the evil eye; some said she was a witch But nane would venture, in the dark, by the hoose where Eppie lived. Chorus: Sing a song of potions, crab-shell and herring-bone Dread and superstition; Dark Eppie all alone. The seaman and the fisherman would come, at the break of day, To seek for a charm to keep them frae harm, as they sailed far away. Their wives would bring the tattie-scones, a puckle milk and cheese, To leave by Eppie’s lintel-stone to bring luck to the seas. But then there cam’ an engineer, in Anster Town to stay, To build a mighty lighthouse on the Island o’ May. When his work was over wi’ the lassies he would play And bonnie Bella Watson gave her young heart away. So, Bella went to Eppie, a love-bag for to buy To win the heart of her engineer; to her he would be tied. But still he laughed and spurned the lass, till he caught Auld Eppie’s eye. In a storm off the May, the very next day, just one man died. Then the preacher and the teacher said Eppie couldnae stay; That the people o’ the toon and the country roond should drive the witch away. And the word ga’ed out in a whispered shout frae the pulpits up on high, To the elders o’ the kirk and the men at work: Eppie had to die! They took Eppie out on a summer’s day, to the rocks along the Hynd. They ducked her and they burned her and her ash blew on the wind. But, in the dark, in their ain hames, they thought on what they’d done And lived in far for hundred years: Eppie wisnae gone! So, if you rove by the Anster shore, on a night when the new moon shines And you see a breeze, you cannae feel, ruff the waters o’ the Hynd And you ken there’s someone there – someone you cannae see. Tak’ a limpet-shell and cross yersel’: frae Eppie you’ll bide free. Note: The Hynd is the old name for the wee bay to the west of town, by the golf course, now know as the Billowness 17 The Coal Dust Still Moves in the Sand Gifford Lind Walkin In the East Neuk o Fife Lookin out for the spires o the toun And the tiles of red brought in by the sea Where crabs and prawns live with fishermen's bones While the stones of the past wear away Washed into sea And the coal dust still moves in the sand And the coal dust still moves in the sand Where holy men lived in the caves And churches and martyrs burned Where Beaton first sailed to Mary's right hand Where fights were fought and the ruins still stand And the great wise men of old That ran the land Were left out in the cold Were left out in the cold I see in a moment that time has moved on And summer's been put to the plough And I stand in a land of forgotten dreams And wonder where can it go now And wonder where can it go now Where the haar o the sea meets the land Lookin out to the Bass and the May Where the black boats once drifted with fish in the hold A haven for oil skinned men of old And fiery volcanoes once roared Long before there was man And the coal dust still moves in the sand And the coal dust still moves in the sand 18 Out of Ainster Andy Shanks Won’t you find me a road that’s out of Ainster I’ve got to leave this couthy world behind The shoes on my feet they are for leaving If I don’t I just know ill lose my mind Just take me home to the place that I belong Just take me home to a place that I belong I'll never be a fisher or a miner There’s nothing here but empty sheds and creels Don’t want to be a waiter in a diner You’ve no idea how dead this old town feels In Glasgow they've got jobs that fill your pockets Though they’ve never heard the wind tear off the sea They’ve more than the echo of nostalgia A museum’s no a place I want to be. Take me home …take me home To a place where I belong 19 The B931 Jennifer Gordon How lucky we are to live here, all through the year. When the visitors go and the sand turns to snow, how lucky we are to live here. To hear poetry from Roy, songs from the boys how lucky I am to live here. To go to the Dreel and ask for "my usual" and have all our needs catered for by Abdul. So here's to the boys of the East Neuk of Fife Who started this fire which burns in my life how lucky I am to live here year after year.
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