This is a rendering of Ewan MacColl's transcription 'very freely' of the 'fragment of song' he collected called 'Auchendoon', 'Auchindoon' or the 'The Burning of Auchendoon'.
singer
songwriter
acoustic
folk
british
guitarist
song
celtic
traditional
fingerstyle
scottish
scotland
guitar
kelso
Story behind the song
Auchendoon is a fragment of old Scots song which has become popular for its simple dramatisation of an incident. It's almost a two-chorder, Dm and C, except for the unexpected G thrown in. Recorded using a Lamaq classical guitar set up for flamenco action. One take as usual.
Lyrics
As ah cam in bah Auchendoon
On a May mornin
Ah met Wullie Macintyre
An hoor afore the dawin
Turn agin, Turn agin, Turn agin I bid ye!
If ye burn Auchendoon, Huntlie he will heid ye!
(the Earl of Huntley will behead you)
Heid me or hang me, that will neiver daunt me!
Ah'll burn Auchendoon, ere the breath it leaves me!
As ah cam in by Auchendoon on a May mornin'
Aucheindoon wiz in a bleeze, an a' afore the dawin'
Crawin! Crawin! Fer a' yer crowse crawin!
(Boasting, boasting, for all your proud boasting)
Ye tint (lost) yer wings (metaphor is a cockerel), ye burnt yer crop (you swallowed a meal too hot to stomach),
An' a' afor the dawin'!