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Ca' the Yowes

from Ghost Story by Fern Maddie

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about

This is an adaptation of the traditional Scottish ballad, Ca' the Yowes. It's often attributed to Robert Burns, who collected it and set it to music, but it's believed to be based on a poem by Isabel Pagan (1740-1821). It's sung partially in the Scots dialect with Anglicized phrases throughout. Fern has changed some of the lyrics to make it a queer love story. The tune heard in this track is not the traditional melody.

lyrics

Ca’ the Yowes, oh, to the nowes
Oh, ca’ them where the heather grows 
Oh ca’ them where the burnie rowes 
My bonnie dearie

As I went down the water side 
Was there, I met my shepherd bride 
She rolled me sweetly in her plaid 
And she called me her dearie 

Will you go down the water side 
To see the waves so sweetly glide
Beneath the hazels spreading wide 
The moon it shines full clearly 

You shall have gowns and ribbons neat 
Calf leather shoes upon your feet
And in my arms you’ll lie and you’ll sleep
And you will be my dearie 

If you’ll but stand to what you said 
I’ll go with you, my shepherdess
And you may rowe me in your plaid
And I will be your dearie

As waters wimple to the sea 
As day breaks in the lift so high 
Till clay cold death does blind my eye
You will be my dearie

So ca’ the yowes to the nowes
Oh ca’ them where the heather grows 
Oh ca’ them where the Burnie Rowes 
Oh my bonnie dearie

credits

from Ghost Story, released June 1, 2022
Scottish trad.
Arrangement, Vocal, Banjo, Bouzouki, Percussion by F.M.
Bass and Fiddle by Colin McCaffrey

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about

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Fern Maddie Vermont

fern maddie is an old-time balladeer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. she lives in the woods of northern vermont (n'dakinna) where she makes music and tends goats.

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