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The Barren Fig (2019)

by Bob Leslie

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1.
Up, Carles, Dance! 02:58
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Up, Carles Dance! (excerpt from ‘A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle’ by permission of the publishers, adaptation and additional lyrics © Bob Leslie 2018) O Scotland wis the barren fig. Up, carles, up and roond it jig. Scotland wis the barren fig. Up, carles, we wid dance! A miracle, oor only chance. Up, carles, up and we wid dance! A miracle, oor only chance. Up, carles, dance! Auld Moses took a dry stick and Straightweys it floo'ered in his hand. A miracle, oor only chance. Up, carles, we wid dance! Pu' Scotland up, and wha can say It widna bud and blossom tae. A miracle, oor only chance. Up, carles, dance! Nou, lang past Hugh MacDiarmid’s day Thon fig’s in fruit, the ba’s in play An miracles are near at hand Up, carles, we shall dance! Jist wan mair footstep tae advance Up, carles, up, then we shall dance! Jist wan mair footstep tae advance Up, carles, dance! Hey! O Scotland wis the barren fig. Up, carles, up and roond it jig. Scotland wis the barren fig. Up, carles, we wid dance! But, we shall sing an we shall pley Thon fig’s in fruit, we’re oan oor wey An miracles are near at hand Sae up, carles, we shall dance!
2.
Drover tae Cowboy 04:51
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Drover tae Cowboy Ah remember auld fireside Tales o the liftin O kye tae Lochaber, Wi the Prince yet oan Skye Macmurchaidh Riabhaich Surprised the bold reivers Left nane bit their watchman Tae tell hou they died On the Montana ranges, Yon story’s repeated Wi rustlers no reivers, Aa weel airmt wi guns When Stuart’s men caught them A week ago Sunday At first there wis thirty, Then there wis none Fae drover tae cowboy Fae Hielans tae homesteads Ah crossed the Great Watter in ‘79 Wi iron wire fences The railroads an Clearances Naethin wis left fir a man o ma kind As a boy Ah wid follae Ma faither tae Falkirk The Tryst wis in season An then in its prime We’d sleep in oor plaids, An we’d drink an be merry An trade wi the Drovers Fae Berwick an Tyne Nou Ah sit wi a rifle At night ‘neath the Rockies Oan guard wi the beasts Against wolf pack an lion Ah sing in the dairkness Fir silence is lonely It keeps the kye calm, An it eases ma mind When we round up the herds We are Scots, Gaels, and Irish We’re black and we’re Spanish Shoshone and Crow In the heat o the summer An cauld o the winter The work needs us aa That’s aa we need tae know And in early Summer The mountains are bonnie Ah hunt the wild deer An Ah drink fae the spring Ah’m savin ma siller Tae send back tae Braemore An bring ower the lassie That maks ma hert sing
3.
Upon a Foreign Shore 03:26
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Upon a Foreign Shore An island boy wha went tae war Wis follaein a dream O farin tae exotic launds Sae faur across the sea An right enough It wisna bad Wance training days war o'er Till he saw things nae man shoud see Upon a foreign shore Although his army rank wis low He lacked nae self-esteem An strove tae mak his unit prood The best that it coud be Wi newfund purpose Straight and tall He coudna ask fur more Till he saw things nae man should see Upon a foreign shore At times, tae ready wi his fists Tho' wance mair faur fae strife He hauds oan tae his anger As tho' it war his life An drinks tae draw The curtain oan The Hell that cam before Whan he saw things nae man should see Upon a foreign shore Torn remains, hung in a tree Lit by a fiery flare Enemy or ally Sae haurd tae know or care A bairn that caught a bullet Jist fur talkin wi the men An comrades blithe and lively That he'll nivver see again Back tae his isle, he willna go He fears tae loss control In front o freends an kindred And the lass he used tae know A paper cup In front o him He begs his bed an board An tries tae live wi whit he saw Upon a foreign shore
4.
Westray Dons 04:07
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Westray Dons The Westray Dons are dark and bowld At sea they hiv nae fear Fir Philip's cause, their faithers saild Fae distant Finisterre When Draco sent the Spanish fleet Flee'n o'er the faem That steady sailors an their sons wid caa these Isles their haem Westray Dons, Westray Dons, Spanish blood an Orkney herts Cheust keep them sailin on While tradin in the Shetland ports wi goods fae Pierowall twa kegs o oail, Hugh Petrie bowt an laid them in the howld Some oors fae shelter, night cam doon cheust as the wind an sea in their quahrrel tossd the watter till the sailors thowt they'd dee Said Don Petrie, "Tak the wheel, gudeman an keep her oan her wey Wir fate we maan tak in wur hands if we'll see land the day" An then tae calm the stormy waves he broachd the kegs o oail that smoothd the seas an let them sail tae herbour oan Fair Isle Westray Dons Don Gilbert widna pey the Earl aal he claimd wis his due Sae Patrick he hid taen da laa tae apprehend the crew That wi'oot licence fae the Earl tae Norroway they'd saild an tae Kirkwall shackld they maan go tae thole it in his jail Weel canny wis Don Gilbert an he bid the earlsmen bide "'Tis ower late tae sail the night, Stey till the mornin tide" The chin an brandy flow'd sae free it laid them oan the flair sae the Westray Dons they stelt their boat an the Earl cheust tore his hair Westray Dons
5.
I Thowt I Liked Winter 03:14
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I Thowt I Liked Winter (Adapted, with permission, from a poem by Orcadian poet Ingrid Grieve – additional lyrics © Bob Leslie 2019) Ah’m seek o this wather Hid’s attry an grey Hid’s niver stop rainan fae the turn o the days Ah’m plitteran aboot in the gutter and weet An I cunna mind last Ah hid warm and dry feet. I thowt I liked winter Bit ah’m changed ma hert The wind alwis blows fae the cowldest o erts. There’s ice an there’s sleet there tae mak yer face sting I thowt I liked winter Nou I long fir the spring. Me lips are aal chappid me nose is bright reed I cunna go withoot a kep on me heed Ah’m glad o me fire An a gless o good cheer Tae help me git by the dark days o the year Cunna wait fir the spring tae git gan at a pace, withoot being bent double wae rain in me face Bit sat at me fire I hear a faint bleat, at least I’ve the good fortune that Ah’m no a sheep.
6.
Nothing Else to Do 03:56
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Nothin Else Tae Do There's a criminal in the courtroom An hi's guilty as aa Hell Let's pu the roof doon oan ‘im Jist tae show oor strength o will If the jurors an the judge aa dee We'll weep a tear or two Then we'll tell the world quite simply There wis nothin else tae do. Nothin else tae do Ye aa saw hou bad he'd bin Nothin else tae do An oor consciences are clean Fir damage that's collateral We might weep a tear or two But if ye're in the wey o Judgment Dey There's nothin else tae do A laddie broke a windae An anither sang a song At 2 o'clock this mornin Ye ken fine that that wis wrong Sae we'll impose a curfew And we might shoot wan or two Jist tae set a fine example Fir there's nothin else tae do Nothin else tae do "Boys will be boys" ye claim Nothin else tae do Bit wi're actin in yer name Fir damage that's collateral We might weep a tear or two But if ye're in the wey o Judgment Dey There's nothin else tae do In a country by a desert Whaur guid folk lived aa their deys They raised their bairns and worked hard Noo they're deid or oan the waves They kent nothin o the gunmen Wha were only passin through Bit we bombed their hames tae ruin There was nothin else tae do Nothin else tae do Sey it three times an it's real Nothin else tae do Hiv we forgotten hou tae feel Fir damage that's collateral We might weep a tear or two But if ye're in the wey o Judgment Dey There's nothin else tae do Nothin else tae do They aa shout it fae their thrones Nothin else tae do Heids o bone and herts o stone Collateral's a price they'll pay Next time it might be you If ye're in the wey o Judgment Dey There's nothin else tae do Oh, the Romans made a wasteland And they caad it peace oan Earth They set a bargain price oan jist whit Human life wis worth Nou the weapon-makars flourish They've learnt that lesson too Oor leaders sell their sowls tae them They've nothin else tae do Nothin else tae do The decisions hiv bin made Nothin else tae do Bit launch a new Crusade Yet damage that's collateral Paints ower whit is true It's jist anither name fir murder Bit there's nothin else tae do
7.
The Doodlemychat 01:50
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The Doodlemychat Whaur's the doodlemychat, the thingummybob, the hoojimiflippery, whitsitsname? Ah thought it wis next tae the kenwhitahmean Bit that's no there either, oh, whit'll Ah dae? The verra dab fir ivvery need An perfect tae finish thon thing Ah wis at O' aa the doohickeys that ivver Ah hid there's nivver a wan like ma doodlemychat Yer hingy's divine, a whoosit is fine Bit they're nae use at aa Fir this thing that Ah'm at Oh, kin ye no see there's definitely Indisputable need for a doodlemychat? Whaur's the doodlemychat, the thingummybob, the hoojimiflippery, whitsitsname? It's easily seen, it's blue, or it's green, The minute ye see it ye'll ken whit Ah mean Whaur's the doodlemychat, the thingummybob, the hoojimiflippery, whitsitsname? Ah thocht it wis next tae the kenwhitahmean Bit that's no there either, oh, whit'll Ah dae?
8.
Already Walking So Tall 06:20
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Already Walking So Tall An empty house that's full of souvenirs Every scuff and scrape records the passing of the years But nothing can replay childhood's yesterday That bird had to fly once it saw the sky Wishing I could hear once more again Those pure unfettered cries of joy or pain The changes day by day, the laughter as they'd play For all my smiles of pride, there's something lost inside And what I see, a part of me just can't believe at all Seemed such a distant day, when they'd just walk away But they're already walking so tall … They're already walking so tall And now the hours that once just flew away Creep in their petty pace from day to day What I did before, I don't remember anymore Guess I'll just have to learn, now that I've time to burn So each will make a way that is their own I will sing my songs again and follow where those go Our paths will cross at times, but nevermore entwined Quite as they used to be, now that they're flying free An empty house that's full of souvenirs Every scuff and scrape records the passing of the years But nothing can replay childhood's yesterday That bird had to fly, just like you and I First time we saw the sky Once we saw the sky Yes, we saw the sky
9.
Ye'll Nivver Find a Souter Doun in Hell 04:30
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Ye’ll Nivver Find a Souter Doun in Hell Oh, the Earl o’ Hell’s guid weskit, it’s derker than his hert An’ it’s studdit wi the souls o’ those wha’ve sinned His sark is rid as Hellfire an his trews are velvet smert Bit his feet they gang unhapt wi socks or shin Fir they’re cloven like a goat’s, split richt up the seam An there’s nae infernal cobbler tae be fund Wha cin mak a perr o’ brogues that wid ease them whan he walks Oan the burnin, jaggit stanes o’ his hame grund. Fir … aa the honest souters that gang shewin aa the world Are faur tae busy wi their clientele Tae booze or hoor their lives awaa, as tae their lasts they’re thirlt Sae ye’ll nivver find a souter doun in Hell Noo wee Mattie wis complainin that he nivver goat a rest As he toilt awa’ fae dawnin tae the dusk He remarkt, “Oh, whit Ah widnae gie if only Ah wir blest Wi gowd enough tae free me fae this task.” In an instant his wee shoapie wis fillt wi’ fire an smoke As an eldritch figure steppt oot o the blaze Asbestos-bottomed Oxford shoes, Beelzebub bespoke “Size 65, wide-fittin, if ye please.” They priggit ower the price required fir Matt tae mak the shin An finally they cam tae an accord Confirmt by contract, signt in blood, upoan a virgin’s skin Which Mattie thocht wis takkin things too faur Penalties fir late completion wir o the standard kind Fir example, if there wir a week’s delay Then aa the hounds o Hell wid eat his liver an his lights “Ah’m hard bit fair,” he heard auld Satan say. Bit whaur tae find a hide sae big an strong enough tae thole Fire an brimstone an the torments doun below? D’y’ ivver mind o yon stuffed elephant they kept in Kelvingrove? An wondert whaur that pachyderm did go? Weel, it made twa lovely uppers fir the Devil’s dancin gear Matt reinforced the toecaps wi the tusks Sae Auld Nick hid horns upoan his feet as weel as next his ears An he professed himself as pleased as Punch Noo Mattie goes oan cruises, an drives a vintage Rolls An he’s boat a mansion up oan Hyndland Hill Tho’ he struck a deal wi Satan, an selt him baith his soles Ye’ll still nivver find a souter doun in Hell.
10.
Lands o the Sioux an the Cree 03:47
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Lands o the Sioux an the Cree Fir the laird we wir on ca' As the work wid come and go Chon and me fir brave adventure hid a thirst, Sae we signt the ither day Wi the man fae Hudson's Bay Noo the laird kin go an whistle fir his hairst Oh, pack thee fiddle, Chon, Fir wur leavin in the morn On the greatest exploit we shall ivver see As the guns fire o'er the Ness We'll be sailin fir the Wast Tae the Lands o the Sioux an the Cree Tae the Lands o the Sioux an the Cree It's nine hunder 'ear or more Since wir folk first touch't these shores The finest sailors that wid ivver be Guidit only by the stars But they nivver sailt sae far As wur gaan tae go the morn, thee an me Tho the watter's wide and cowld Chon an me are brave, and bold Fir the salt o Scapa's rinnin in wir veins We kin earn six pound a year Fir tae buy a ferm back here Whar we'll both tak wives an raise a dose o bairns Oh, Freya, dry yer eyes Hid's worth waitin for the prize Five year will pass an Ah'll be comin hame Then we'll maerry an buy land An thoo'll be prood o thee man An he'll nivver hae tae go tae sea again
11.
Hauf the Brains o Me 03:46
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Hauf the Brains o Me Ah'm a jumped-up proletarian Tae nane Ah bou the knee Ah've seen the world, raised bairns, And been tae university A trade union man for freedom And a country tae set free An ye'll nivver meet a lord Wha's sportin hauf the brains o me Ah, ma mither's folk were minin stock ma faither's went tae sea an though they worked, were jist as guid as aristocracy But they nivver stertit ony wars or sent young folk tae dee fir the interests o a lord wha's sportin hauf the brains o me Bit aa the Pomp an Circumstance Folk dearly loo tae view Ermined capes and coronets Their world's red, white, an blue It's as if a dug wid pey its fleas Fir aa the hairm they do Bit they keep thir knees a-bendin Aa thon forelock-tuggin crew Bit it's "Royal" this an "Royal" that whaurever ye may be Frae concert ha's tae bridges an oor laund's geography An there's gowks sae daft as swally that they're glued tae their TV Whaur they'll nivver see a lord wha's sportin hauf the brains o me Bit whit o human worth when dressed in honest dignity? Naethin rivals Independent thocht an sensibility Ah'd pit money oan it, in yer life, ye'll nivver meet or see ony birkie cried a lord wha's sportin hauf the brains o me.
12.
Beira 05:06
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Beira Wance Beira made mountains An haimert them doon Wrocht rivers and glens wi a will Loch Ness an Loch Awe She made them an aa Then sat doon tae rest oan her hill She wis Winter’s blue dame An she ruled dour an cowld Frae her seat oan bare Nevis side Whaur she searched wi her ee Ower the laund an the sea Fir somewan tae mak her a bride Beira, she looks fir her hero Tae gie her the kiss that caas Spring Throu the nichts aw sae cowld Withert an owld Winter’s Queen waits fir her King Beira, she looks fir her hero Tae gie her the kiss that caas Spring An wid mak her wance mair A lassie sae fair Winter’s Queen waits fir her King Beira the Cailleach Her herr white as snaw Herds her deer while the wind’s makkin mane Her staff is their guide Nivver faur frae her side They’re aa that she hauds as her ain While she stirs Corryvreckan She cries tae the stars An the burns burst their banks wi her tears Oan Nevis she stauns An lays storms ower the laund While awaitin a chynge in the year Angus the Bodach Is cloth’d aa in green An his spirit is young as the year As the Bhealltain fires burn The season will turn Wi each step tae his luve he draws near Noo the Bodach he fechts Throu the holly an broom An climbs up the wild mountainside Tae be wi his Queen An tae him sae she seems Fir his hert sees the maiden inside Beira, she smiles at her hero As he gies her the kiss that caas Spring An Beira wance mair Is Queen Bride sae fair As she lies in the airms o her King

about

Now available on a "Name your own price" basis!

Hard copy CD available at boblesliemusic.com/shop/
"The Barren Fig - full of jewels!" (March 2019)
Liz Browning Fox
'Celtic! Old World to New Age'
Radio Hatteras, Buxton, N. Carolina

"The Barren Fig - a piece of art" (March 2019)
Ian D. Hall
Liverpool Sound and Vision

” Bob’s songs are imaginative, well researched, witty, and thought provoking .”
Wendy Weatherby
Nominated Scots Trad Awards 2010 ‘Traditional Singer of the Year’

“Bob’s material is beautifully crafted and reflects a deep connection to his Scottish roots.”
Allison Lupton
Folk Music Ontario ‘Songs from the Heart’ Grand Prize Winner

credits

released February 20, 2019

Bob Leslie - vocals, guitar, bass
Annie Neville - accordion
Kate Kramer - fiddle, viola
Pauline Vallance - clarsach, flute

Lyrics available here: boblesliemusic.com/lyrics-glossary/

(c) 2019 Bob Leslie
(p) 2019 Bob Leslie

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Bob Leslie Glasgow, UK

Bob Leslie's music is now available on a "NAME YOUR OWN PRICE" basis!
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“I can think of no other songwriter who has mined this rich vein
with such lyrical ease and with no mean ear for melody. ”
Alan Reid, Battlefield Band ... more

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