Jim Malcolm - A Man's A Man for All That

[mosesmac]

Jim Malcolm is AMAZING!!!!

[XxMarzox]

Viva el poeta Escocés Burns!!!

[JuniperSage1]

Can't wait to see him in Bend! I am going to order an album now!

[londubh2007]

Today is Daniel Hernandez birthday as well. He just turned 21. He is credited with helping to save the life of Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords in the critical moments after she was shot in the head. So I'd like to dedicate at least one playing of this video to Daniel.

[Brianjacob5050]

Lionel McClellend  is better. They didnt approve my comment right away. But I said, if this song is taken off youtube, it will be the day that I die. So go listen to his version of it please as well.

[susiev08]

Was just at a house concert of Jim's...... beautiful voice, great songs....interesting conversation.... what a wonderful concert experience!!  So glad I went!

[Gimmer3]

Just wonderful!

[jedmarum]

I love it!!

[mcmilnor64]

Jim Malcolm does do the Bard proud <3

[DonegalRaymie201]

Simply superb! This Mr. Malcolm does the Bard proud,

Thank you for posting, it's wondeful!

[MrCopperhead1861]

he couldn't have done Robert more justice :)

[danishih]

any idea on the chords used here? there's a capo on 5th fret, but fits into key of G. confused...

[darthjavaljs]

He's probably in DADGAD or drop D, not standard tuning. This might be the source of your confusion.

[326ViPeR]

I really like his musics, especially this one! Thanks for posting it!!

^_^

[danishih]

best version i've ever heard. i'll definately come see you in partick in a few months mate (as long as you play this!) xxx

[rumbygum]

Great voice and love the adherence to the actual song. Seems like every remake I hear tries to apologize for the early English in the song- but the song is so good it transcends that trivial border and is recognized by most, if not all.

[JammyDodger2012]

He's singing in 'Scots' not in early English.

[anaryll]

Early English?!?!?!?!?! I think you mean Scots.

[fionndan]

Scots is derived from many languages - Early English and Flemish, Danish, Norse, French, Gaelic, and I think theres German in there too. It developed in the 'Burghs' of Scotland - that is the towns and cities that grew into great centres of commerce. The only place outwith these urban areras that Scots has older roots (ie ore 14th century) in is in the South East of Scotland where it was established when the Northumbrians ruled parts of the Lothians Borders and Eastern Dumfriesshire.

[DonegalRaymie201]

@fionndan

Sorry, can't let that pass! "Lallans/Scots" is related to those languahes you mention, but not derived from them! It's as old as Olde English, having seperated by the time of Chaucer. ie. Middle English, when "Olde Northumbrian" was spoken North of the Humber, & English to the South!

The languages seperated from that point, circa 1300 AD, hence why to this day, Geordies talk about "bairns" and "hooses" etc! Northumbrian and Lowland Scots are the same tongue,!

[fionndan]

I thank you for that information and am happy to stand corrected. Although please confirm: "Northumbrian" the same as lowland Scots?

I disagree - yes there will be overlap especially in the borders area but if you come north of the Tay into Angus and up into the north east the Scots sounds very different from the dialect spoken by "Geordies" (ill assume they are Northumbrians - I am not entirely familiar with the term).

I would appreciate your comment.

[DonegalRaymie201]

@fionndan

More correctly "Northumbrian" and Lallans share a relatively recent common ancestor. Remember the Ancient kingdom of Northumbria stretched all the way to Edinburgh, (Edwin's Burgh, after a Northumbrian king!) And the English/Scots border changed many times too.

"Geordies" are strictly only those born North of the Tyne. South of it, you're a "Maccum", but it's in Rural Northumberland, that you'll hear real Northumbrian dialect.

And they have their own bagpipes too!

[fionndan]

I firmly believe that Edinburgh derives from Din Eidyn, the Cumbric (or Brythonic / British Celtic / Old Welsh ) name for Edinburgh. The 'Eidyn' part was retained and then the Scots burgh was used as a translation of 'Din' meaning fort. Yes, when the Northumbrians ruled the borders and Lothians there may well have been a king called Edwin, but the Din Eidyn name predates that kings existence by several hundred years. The name Din Eidyn is used in the "oldest scottish poem" - Y Gododdin (7th c.)

[DonegalRaymie201]

@fionndan

That's an interesting, plausible alternative you give. The Etymology of place names is no exact science so you could well be right.

But how old is Edinburgh? When was it founded?

[fionndan]

Couldn't tell you. Its an amazing rock to position a fort on. But I do know that Old Welsh / Brythonic was spoken in Lothain before the 6th century (and perhaps afterwards as a minority language). Then the Angles of Northumbria ruled that area and so some have assumed a Anglian etymology for Edinburgh. But to be honest in all the literature I have read the consensus seems to be that Din Eidyn gave rise to Edinburgh (which might explain why the Gaelic is Dun Eideann). All very interesting !

[tarzanlordofthe]

Thin there was a bronze age fort there, Could be wrong but its obviously a natural spot to keek out at folk

[DonegalRaymie201]

@fionndan

Now I get you. The modern name "Edinburgh" is a translation or anglicization, (quite literally in this case!), of the older name? As soon as you mentioned the Gaelic it all made sense! Should really be "Duneidyn" (Dunedin?), like Dundee, Dunfermline or even my own Donegal, (Dun na nGall in Gaelic).

Sorry for being so obtuse!

BTW, this old Welsh you mention, was that the language of the Picts or the Britons who had a kingdom in the south-west, (Strathclyde?)?

Interesting indeed.

[DonegalRaymie201]

@fionndan

I know what you mean about the North-East (Scotland), there is a quite different dialect entirely spoken in Aberdeenshire. I believe it is known as "Doric" or "Buchan Claik"? And features the classic "Fit fit fits fit?"

Why it's so different from Lowland Scots, I have no idea.

I really was pointing out that Lallans and English are equally old! Lallans doesn't derive from English, no more than the reverse is true. (But almost all European tongues have a ancient common ancestor.)

[fionndan]

I understand now. They both share a common ancestor. Just like many languages all over Europe. It just so happens that Scots and English pulled apart radically in the 14th century or so.

[DonegalRaymie201]

@fionndan

Yes, though maybe much earlier than 1300's to find a truly common ancestor. It's difficult to find clear, authoritative histories of Lallans or Old English. You have to piece it together from different sources. And precious little was written down in those old tongues. Those who could write, wrote in Latin, though they wouldn't have spoken it!

By the times of Chaucer, different tongues had evolved North & South of the Humber. Would the Anglo-Saxon "Beowulf" been common to both?

[godstargodstar]

Are we talking about lingustic "Scots" as dialects vary so quickly in ancien times . Even as Child, accents in Scotland were so percise that the difference of towns could be easily spotted. Even today People from Paisley can have a different accent from those from Glasgow small idioms change. so the difference over 200 miles 1000 years ago would be like chalk and cheese.

[DonegalRaymie201]

@godstargodstar

You might have to go back a few pages here, but we were debating the origins of the Scots Language (or Lallans); not accents or dialects. And when it separated from Olde English/ Anglo-Saxon, when did they become distinct from each other?

[legandrydirk]

@godstargodstar I would say there was 4 Glasgow accents.And most Paisley Buddies,could easily get mistaken for a South side Glasweigan.Anyway I was wanting to leave a nice comment about this guys rendition of this song.It liked it it was full off heart and passion and good musicionship.OK he was hardly sounding very Ayrshire.But who cares they dont talk like Burns in Ayrshire anymore.I know I was brought up there.Even though I am a Glasweigan.But love Burns work,never thought much when a kid

[foxbat3gmail]

hey! numpty did you really say early English? that was guaranteed to get you slaughtered by all Scots.

[TigressofGod]

I love his voice!

[loudounayr]

One of my favorite musicians in the world! Jim is up for the Scots Trad Music Awards 2008 Scots Singer of the Year! Check out the Scots Trad Music Awards web site and vote for him online before 21 Nov 08!!!

[powwowdoc]

I just spent a week in Jim Malcolm's company and Robert Burn's class at the Swananowa Gathering. He is a comsumate performer and is truely one of the a brightest stars in Scottish folk music.

He also has more class than to argue or flame someone over insignificant issues. To be factually correct, Burns often did put his poems to music. Burns was very concerned that a lot of the traditional music of the time was being lost and incorporated those melodies into his poems.

[Buckeye67]

Hey there! I was there too (for flute & whistle). I couldn't agree more about Jim. What a class act and what a great performer. I'd love to have a voice like that! Thanks for being there Jim!

[Ptarmi]

cammylespaul .... Go & check out the 360 + SONGS Burns left us!

He was in fact one of Scotland' finest & probably our most important songsmith.

Now who's a stupid F?

[awnok]

A wordsmith, yes, but he put words to existing tunes.

[BardofCornwall]

Brilliant. Malcolm's one of my favourite celtic vocalists.

[westernwynd]

This is a Robert Burns song.

[westernwynd]

Gentle Reader, While I don't care for the language directed at me (whether I was right or wrong), it also is true that Burns collected Scottish traditional tunes and in fact was an important person in making sure this music was not lost.

He also set a great deal of his poetry to these tunes or variants he created to better suit the poetry. These creations are known as Burns songs, this recording is one of those songs.

He may also have created his own tunes entirely, of this I am not sure.

[pk1225]

I'd call it a Robert Burns song too. Most people would understand that you mean it's a song based on Burns poetry for lyrics.

[westernwynd]

What I _think_ is true is that Burn himself choose the music for the poem, and that it was probably a Scottish trad. piece of music that he used. It seems by his choice to set his music to poetry that Burns wanted a great deal of his poetry to be sung.

[romoly22]

Thanks so much gracie1ella for putting this up. I just downloaded his "Acquaintance" recording from iTunes and it's brilliant from beginning to end. I'm planning to t go see him in concert in March outside of Chicago. I have to agree with you Westernwynd and with pk1225. Whether this is the original tune or not isn't important. This is a Burns' humanist anthem as much as his poem or song. The fact that it's beautifully written and makes a great song is a bonus.

[celtsong]

This video got a mention on Jim's website. Susie called it "very stirring stuff". Well done!

[londubh2007]

We hosted him for a house concert in Tulsa and he was indeed amazing. We were fortunate as well.

[celtsong]

We hosted the Birmingham house concert that mcmilnor64(hey buddy!)was referring to, and it was an absolute joy. He blew the room away! And was the perfect houseguest as well. What a sweetheart!

[mcmilnor64]

Jim was playing in Birmingham, AL last week and my husband and I were fortunate enough to one of those at the house party. WONDERFUL concert. Can't wait to see Jim again! :)

[fivebikes]

He was at my house the night before and I forgot to get any pics!!! AWESOME!! Thanks!! My favorite song as well! Lori

[gracie1ella]

wow, lucky you!!

It was definitely the most incredible concert I've ever been to.