Coulter's Candy/Ali Bali Bee- Hamish Imlach

[tj4234]

my dad used to sing this song to me when I was little. But he sung it differently obviously :L.

[LVEMEDO]

@tj4234 My Ma use to sing it to us when we where younger

[hunkydorey2]

the memories of this song, and reading peoples comments is having me emotional here

[catlovesthedoctor]

@DonegalRaymie201 lol. Aye, right. =)

[Cool2BCeltic]

A song that tells a lot about why so many of us Scots have false teeth!

[SuperAnemoi]

My Nana use to sing this to me when I was little:)

[XbeebethybooX]

My Papa would put me on his knee and bounce me up and down singing this to me, just snuggeling up to him, this song brings back thos happy memorise. I'd give anything to go back to those days <3

[lincurrie]

oh reminds me of my mother,love her g.r.h.s

[yambasz]

ayegg the days

[Westy91]

LIMMY LAAAAD!

[ayrbilly45]

brings back times sitting on m a grannies knee

[ddifede]

Oh my..... Does this ever bring back memories. My grandma and Mom used to sing this to my brother and I when we were young. I sang it to my own three when they were wee. Many thanks!!

[Cairn09]

ally bally bee i love it

[LaFemmeMorte]

My parents tormented my younger sister - named Alex - with this song. I love it personally.

[robsargent4]

@LaFemmeMorte my brothers & sister used to do it to me as well :)

[upyerkilt123]

brilliant song. my father in law does a cover of this on guitar. think i might learn it now.

[euroserf]

A sweetie shop in North Earl st Dublin called " Skeffingtons " was an Aladdins cave of candy in the 1950's/60's when i went to " Town " with my late Mam, and she'd buy a quarter pound of boiled sweets and a quarter of chocolate misshapes....Heaven !

[77sshadow]

rofl i used to sing this

[CJR33D]

when I was a baby, to get me to sleep my mum would hold me in her arms, sit on a rocking chair, and sing to me. This is one of those songs, and i can still remember her voice singing this in the back of my head

[milbury55]

Takes me back, Hamish Imlach songs resonated in my house in the 70's!

[DuragonLeMente]

(ish nicknamed Ali-Bali)

...why does this exist? =_=

[edwardcullen162]

i sang that in primary 1

[dakiro222]

This song is truly great.

[saze77]

aw I sing this to my son, as it was sung to me when I wis a wee yin :-) thanks for postin!

[truscotsman45]

this song brings back great memories of my childhood sitting in my grans and grandads house with hte radio on and listening to the old scottins songs

[IrNbRuQuEeN13]

i used ti sing this when i was younger and at primary ... brings back memories ^^

[iancleggy]

I used to sing this to my wee girl Sofie its a great scots lullaby

[allysda]

Takes me back over 45 years

[TheCatholicnproud]

Ma nana used tae sing this tae me wen i wiz a wee wain lol

[shaund5]

you should get dont cry in your sleep (aka) hush hush

[NorseWinter]

My father used to sing this song for me when I was a tiny little thing, being from Denmark as I am he sang a danish version of this song, back from the sixties. It was only this day when at a fair I heard a Scottish singer talk about this song, it's scottish origin and then singing it... made my day I must admit

[DonegalRaymie201]

@NorseWinter

Was your father a fisherman by any chance? Do you have any idea where he learned it?

maybe you should post the Danish version for those good people who can understand, as many English don't get Hamish's version!

[linoma57]

@NorseWinter great story,, very touching

[icklestjules]

My granny sang that to me lol :)

[MissJennemm]

@icklestjules mine too :) she still does haha

[amurray8900]

A bawbee was ha'penny (half penny) actually :)

[supermyrab]

dont think a bawbee was as much as fivepence a halfpenny maybe ,,a farthing

[legobrikboy123]

Ma name is hamish and im fae scotland as well and ma mum used tae sing this tae mae when a was wee

[KoreanMeatball]

ma cousins sang this too me when i was small brings back memoies

[TheLoveisenough]

i love it, it's so soothing and cute

[kimberleyley]

a song for all wee kiddies who used to wait for the tally van (: love it!

[kimberleyley]

a song for all scottish children who used to wait for the tally van :) still love it!!

[maureenvallis]

Thanks for responding to my inquiry to the meaning of 'doon'. Of course it means 'down'. (I'm from Greenock) I think I was looking for a noun.

Now I understand 'Mammy gie me my thrifty doon'. Like yelling up to your Mammy in the tenement, 'Throw me doon a piece 'n jam'..:)

[JCMcGee]

Jeez.....I've never heard a recorded version of this before and the first two comments have summed it up,,,,my mum and gran both sung this to me....and hearing this has made me cry......

[scotsgirltwo]

Sung this to my kids and grand kids...:)

[fringedweller99]

always a favourite as my Father used to sing this to me, now I am 50 and he is 82, ye canna buy that memory

[XbeebethybooX]

i love this :) brings back so much memorise. My Papa would sit me on his knee and sing it to me but instead of "sitting on yer mammies knee" it was "sitting on yer Pappies knee" :( i love my papa (L) x

[MONEYLOVE1231]

i learned this song in chior

[raglngbull]

I heard this performed last night by a scottish folk band in Denmark, the danes seem to have known it however they was singing the chorus in danish (apparently a danish guy used the song at some point), anyone know the danish lyrics/versions name? would be greatly appreciated.

[0686drummy]

You twoshould be proud that you made the move but trust me , it's still raining and full o midgies wi teeth like sharks

[ahddubsbos]

My father would sing this to me and my brother when we were weeyins.

[ahddubsbos]

My father would sing this to me and my brother when we were weeyins.

[GirvanLighthouse77]

I named my youngest son Alistair after Ali Bali Bee !! He is 7 months the now and loves the song sitting on his mammy's knee !! His Big brother loves it too like I do and my late dad did and my grandma who used to teach it to the kids at playgroup and tufty club she ran !!

[TheSoulboy90]

You have to be joking? Me ma' used tae sing this tae us when we were weans in Ireland. I thought she just made it up!

God bless the auld dear! I never knew.

[moniquegarcialindsay]

I came to live in Spain 22 years ago, but I'll always remember this song! It reminds me that I'm still a true Scot!

[TheSoulboy90]

Aye! Ye ir!

[SilverSussies]

My mum used to sing this tae us aw the time. Then, when we hid weans, she'd sit them oan her lap wae the 'plide' aroon her and thae weans wid be sound asleep in nae time. Beautiful stuff this.

[gordonw01]

Makes ye proud tae be Scottish this doesn't it ?

LIke everyone else of a certain age i remember my Maw used to sing this( to my younger Brother Alan),his face was always covered in chocolate so really was quite apt for him..i apparently used to get jealous and she would have to sing to me "A Gordon For Me" haha..growing up in Scotland really was/is special.Thanks for posting this mate.

[TheSoulboy90]

"my maw"

feckin priceless! I remember now why I loved my time growin' up in Scotia! It was always interesting!

[wendeebop64]

This how I remember the song: Ally bally, ally bally bee. Sittin' on yer mammy's knee. Greetin' fer anither bawbee. Tae buy maer Coulters candy. Mammy gi' me yer thrifty doon. Here's ol' Coulter a'comin roon. Wi' a basket upon his croon. Sellin' Coulters candy. Little Annies a'greetin tae. Saw what can yer poor mammy dae. Gi'em a penny a'tween them twae. Tae buy maer Coulters candy.

[shonajw]

@wenI remember this versiondeebop64

[catlovesthedoctor]

Brings tears to my eyes to hear this. Ma Granny used to sing it to me when I was a wee girl, and I sing it to my daughter too.

[Shug52]

@catlovesthedoctor me too and I left Scotland to go to Australia 40yrs ago

[catlovesthedoctor]

@Shug52 Well I've only been in Australia 15 years, love it here, and know I'd miss it if I went home. I'll always be Scottish though, and have a wee cry now and then over missing the Lochs and the heather. :o)

[Shug52]

@catlovesthedoctor I have been home twice since coming to Australia, See I still call it home after 40yrs of being away. I hope to get back for a long holiday very soon.

There must be somewere all these old songs are archived. I would like to get a collection together.

[catlovesthedoctor]

@Shug52 Now I don't feel so bad that I've only been home once since I moved here! Yes it would be great to get all the old songs together in one place. Thankfully my children love them all, and the bagpipes, and I plan to continue this important area of their education! :o)

[DonegalRaymie201]

@catlovesthedoctor

His me greetin' like a wee wean, dae ye no mean?

Yer among yer kith & kin here, so nae need for airs an' graces noo hen LOL!

But ah know wit ye mean.

[alibally]

Sang this to my daughter who is called Alison.

[cameronian100]

@mrdfitz1 this song has been adored by millions of children so why use the F word to describe it you moron

[gabtrizzle]

i love this song because my name is ali

[1100PanEuro]

I sing this to my son every night cos his name is Alistair

[GreatScot007]

i still sing it ti my wee lass, she wuid fall a sleep we me singing it.

[freacls]

my great gran used to sing thise to me as a baby we have a video off her singing thise i was not even a year old in it lol somewhere lol

[Fagio28]

Anyone can gave me coulter's candy tab, please???

I'm Italian but i love a lots this song!!!

I have gone in scotland last month and I heard Ally bally and then I fell in love of it!!! XD

Thanks

[saorscott]

my boss sings this song while driving

the smile on his face ,,how he must miss scotland

[feefeetrixabella]

When i was a student nurse working in a nursing home, this song was sung often by the residents..bless xx

[sadielumay]

me too.. good times

[aldorraman]

Any body familiar wi the song,...lassies used to sing before they got married?..."Hard up Kick the can...maggies got a man...." etc...lassies banging pots/lids....giving kisses etc...for a donation....

[aldorraman]

What memories this brings back....singing this with ma pals...in the tenemments of springburn.....thanks for postin....

[tubitchemo]

omfg i used 2 sing that in primary ... which was a couple of years ago ^^ no long tho i'm jst goin in2 6th yr

[PaulRoast]

My Mum used to sing this song to me when I was young. I used to then sing it at school to. Never thought it would be on you tube!

[sianyroxyajox1]

@PaulRoast mee 21!

[slamminjammin87]

@PaulRoast 

[slamminjammin87]

@PaulRoast same love it brings back goods time and memorys of my gran

[weegem88]

Is there not a bit that goes:

Coulter's candy a penny a lump,

That's the stuff tae make ye jump

When ye jump yer sure tae faw

Okie dokie, that's it aw.

I used to sing that between the verses when I was younger, anyone else?

[maureenvallis]

I sang this to my weans and now my wee granddaughter Skye . Next week I'll be singing it at an International Festival. Fabulous song..

Does anyone know when this was originally written?

Thanks.

[maureenvallis]

I know what 'thrifty' means but not sure about 'doon' in this context. Help please...

[JCMcGee]

@maureenvallis : Hope this helps...some words are Scottish, some desended from Scandinavian (Bairn) some just Glaswegian: Afie: awfully/very (as in" you are looking awfully/verry ill") Sookin: Sucking Banes: Bones Muckle: Many/a pile of Greetin: crying Doon: down Bawbee: 5 pence Atween them twae: between the two of them Auld: Old Roon: around Croon: forehead/head Bairnies: children Grannie: grandmother Clatie: disgusting

[Macangusagain]

It takes me back to the days of my childhood in Easter-Ross on the shores of the beautiful Moray Firth, great stuff,the best of Scotland !! Albainn Gu Brath !!!

[alibali09]

lol my nickname is Alibali. I searched it through youtube and came across this. Now I have a song for my nickname. =]

[JCMcGee]

@alibali09 : Nutter! Everyone in Scotland called Alistair is known at some time as AliBali....because of this song....

[Exiledjacobite]

A great Scots song that my mammy sang tae me and I sang tae mah wee daughter. Pity that bloody "British" Pathe is there stealing oor heritage again.

[industrialfun]

Hardly heritage to be fair, it's not even proper words!

[JJofLTP]

so you're not from Scotland then?

[industrialfun]

No, but I lived there for about ten years, the above comment was aimed at a mate of mine who's a very proud Scot, but I don't think he's going to rise to the bait! It has reminded me though that whenever the English win something it's a great British victory, when the Scots win, it's just Scottish!

[JJofLTP]

Oh you're not wrong there , Wimbledon was a prime example , when Andy Murray was winning he was the great BRITISH hope. As soon as he lost it was "Scotsman slumps to defeat" lol

[nacho1560]

Of course its not proper words unless your a Scot, then you'd know what it means, my friend.

[jockgra]

I used to live near Matt in Spittal, rutherglen. I heard him sing in 1964 along with the Corries, Hamish Imlach . Great days

[tomhamilton8]

i still sing this song at the Irvine Folk Club/marina Irvine

[culnara]

Jeezus, ma mither n ma faither used ti sing ess ti ma fin a wiz wee, didna ken err wiz an actul song aboot it :O

Cheers Bigmanio ;)

[squanto2]

OH! What a wondrous thing to say!!!

You fill my heart!

[katieburns23]

HMM this brings back a lot of fond and loving memories from my child hood, when my granfather was alive, it still makes me smile. i know one thing for sure, when i have children of my own i'll be a singing this to them aswell

[alanjgoldman]

I saw him at the glasgow folk club in the early 70s

[sOnOmOnOlaxD]

stupenda..:)

[lindseyj85]

this song reminds me sooo much of my dai

[ailz27]

my granny and grandad used to sing this to me and my wee bro when we were bairns. it brings back great memories x

[mononclefuzzy]

Heartbreaking song - for me anyway. It was in my family, possibly sang by my mother, who died more than 30 years ago when I was very, very young.

Tremendous version.

[shonajw]

I want tae be a bairn again.

[kristinelawrie]

I remember my mum singing this song to me and i sang it tae ma wee one!

[itzoccor]

my daughter used to sing it while we lived in Glasgow (dear green place!). She was so cute. This song minds me of when she was weer. Thanks

[Berwallace]

My Wee Ma sang this 2 Me & aw My Siblings N then also 2 aw her Granweans ....

[Marino11ygg]

lol, mi gran loved this. Yes SHE loved it =p.

[anothergirl45]

My Gran used to sing this to me, this brings back great memories, thank you

[rosin09]

hamish imlch is my grandpha i swear he died befor i whas born:0(

[bbsgirlie]

she certainly is was a small bump in her mammy's tummy when her grandpa Hamish died.. and everyone of his kids sang this song to there kids

[Ali5378]

My grampa used to sing this to me when i was wee. I'm in floods of tears watching this! Its great xxx thank you xxx

[RasmusKjaerg]

All danes know this song as well! (from a cover version obviously) A singer called Cæsar made a danish version in 1966 called Storkespringvandet (the stork fountain; middle of Copenhagen) about the fountain being a hang out for hippies and their problems with the police.

[paigencassie]

aww my grandma used to sing this to me :'(

[Mysticum81]

And my mum! :[

[fishfoodlad]

ohh the memories :S

[rabbie07]

nice 1 . there was a guy from ayr who sang this do you remember him was on here but cant find him.

[TheTillwithTeg]

Was is Stuart Anderson, he does a couple of songs which are on youtube. Donald wheres Your Trousers, Nessy, and Never Kissed A Bonny Lass before. He did have a video of Coulters Candy up there too.

[rabbie07]

No mate it was older guy on a black and white set just cant remember his name was on here but gone. Thanx anyway

[TheTillwithTeg]

No worries, the only other candidate I can think of would be Andy Stewart.

[TheTillwithTeg]

I am a true idiot, I forgot, Donovan did a recording of it too back in the late 60's maybe 1970.

[rabbie07]

No sure it was on here i found it under ayr singer??? its gone now though

[graememcg]

Was it Joe Kerr? He used to have a vid on here. but has been removed.

[LOMANDYO]

Thanks for this one,I used to sing this to my son 20yrs ago when I bathed him and to this day he thought I made it up,so now he knows his dad is not so talented lol.

[likadog1]

thanks for putting the great man on, great memories of seeing Hamish in Inverness and the Deskford Folk Festival around 1970.

Have been trying to get Sonny on CD wtih no success, any chance of someone putting it on here along with the classic 7 men of Knoydart

[bbsgirlie]

I have plenty 45 singles of Sonnys Dream if you want I'll send you one.. downside you need a record player!! Hamish's daughter

[likadog1]

Hello there

I was visiting my son in Glasgow last weekend and came accros the LP (vynl) in an Oxfam shop in Byres Road, it was ex BBC. This is after years of trying, it is like waiting for a bus, you don't think one is coming then hey presto along comes a fleet of them. I would love to speak to you so if you would post me back i will forward my telephone number. I am unfortunately working tomorrow, just finished work, if possible speak Sunday evening.

[bbsgirlie]

Hiya yes typical would be happy to talk to you.. send your number and I'll give you a call :)

[alanjgoldman]

I saw him at the Glasgow folk club in the 70s

[697619md]

Grew up wi this song, a hiny heard it in years. thank you.

davy fae salcoats.

[cheerydavie]

AH !! Hamish must upload more of this great entertainer

[weetumshieheid]

Heard Hamish many years ago in the Silverburn Hotel folk club (Newarthill)Great singer.

[juco12]

I also went to the Silverburn in Newarthill,

Those were the days, a great night out.

[bigangie1]

i used to sing this to the children when i was a nursery nurse, they always loved it! Good wee soothing song!!

[ambs99]

fantastic, I remember singing this as a kid in glasgow and then singing it to my kids,Hamish was a great entertainer and is much missed I have this song on a vinyl album