Scottish Tradition : An Teallach "When Yellow's On The Broom"

A song composed by Adam McNaughton as a tribute to Scotland's travelling people of a bygone age. Some of the photos are from Duncan Williamson's fine book "The Horsieman"

I ken ye dinna like it lass,
the winter here in toon
For the scaldies a miscry us,
and they try tae bring us doon
And it's hard tae raise three bairns,
in a single flae box room
But I'll tak ye on the road again,
when the yella's on the broom.

When the yella' s on the broom,
when the yella' s on the broom
I'll tak ye on the road again, when the yella's on the broom

The scaldies cry us tinker dirt,
and scorn oor bairn's in school
But fa cares fit the scaldies think,
the scaldie's but a fool
They never hear the yarlin's song,
nor see the flax in bloom
For they're aye cooped up in hooses
when the yella's on the broom

When the yella' s on the broom,
when the yella' s on the broom
I'll tak ye on the road again,
when the yella's on the broom

Nae sale for pegs or baskets noo,
so just to stay alive
W've had to take the scaldie jobs,
fae eight o' clock till five
But we ca' nae man oor maister,
when we own the warld roon
And we'll bid fareweel tae Breechin,
when the yella's on the broom

When the yella' s on the broom,
when the yella' s on the broom
I'll tak ye on the road again,
when the yella's on the broom

I'm weary for the springtime,
when we tak the road aince mair
Tae the plantin' and the pearlin',
and the berry fields O Blair
When we meet up wae oor kinfolk,
frae a the country roon
When the gang aboot folk tak' the road
when the yella's on the broom.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The
• Yellows
• on
• the
• Broom
• Scottish
• Tradition
• An
• Teallach
• Folk
• Travelling
• People
• Duncan
• Williamson

[TheSheenaWellington]

Great version - I love Jake Donnely's voice! It's neither fenian nor Ulster, btw, the words are by Glasgow songwriter Adam McNaughtan and was written after he read Betsy Whyte's autobiography called "Yellow on the Broom" and the tune is from an English (Norfolk origin, I believe) ballad "The Female Drummer".

[UISTMAN59]

@TheSheenaWellington Thanks for the note - I was a bit bemsued about the Ulster till I saw the earlier daft comment! :-)

[cullybackeypb]

I wonder is this an oul fenain song or would it be an ulster song

[UISTMAN59]

@cullybackeypb What's wrong with reading the notes I put up when I posted the song - that would save you making misguided guesses such as this?

[UISTMAN59]

@cullybackeypb What's wrong with reading the notes I put up when I posted the song - that would save you making misguided guesses such as this?

[mandolinda6]

I love this one :)

[HohnerMadJock]

BELOW IS A LINK TO A PROGRAME ON BBC2 SCOTLAND ABOUT, SCOTTISH TRAVELLERS, YOU WILL ENJOY.

bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b010­bbgz/Travellers_Episode_1/

[UISTMAN59]

@tweirhouston Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.



[TheSheenaWellington]

@UISTMAN59 Yes, it was a bit dim - obviously someone who didn't understand a word!

[koparvati]

i remember the travellers camped at roadside just north of portree in the summers of the 70s,on our way to holiday in kilmuir as kids.also around garve i remember them selling wickerwork? chairs etc

[UISTMAN59]

@kirriekiwi Thanks for your comment. My late father in law belonged to Kirrie and his sister emigrated to NZ many years ago. Have a great new Year . :-) Regards, Iain.

[kirriekiwi]

Great video and brings back happy memories for me as a kid playing with the tinkies kids in their camp up the top oh the Slade in Kirriemuir in the 40ties also we went to school to-gether and picked berries ,Happy Memories . thanks again Kirrie Kiwi.