Will i the Lum

Contributors

Dass, John, 1905-1988 (5297) Norquoy, Norman, 1903-1986 (5298)

Fieldworkers

Bruford, Alan J., 1937-1995 (14)

Date 23 May 1974

Track ID 39412

Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1974.70.B4

Original Tape ID

SA1974.070

Summary

In this comic song, a woman with two lovers marries one, Jock, and at the same time has an affair with the other, Will. One night while Jock is fishing, Will goes to see the woman, but is forced to hide up the chimney when Jock returns early. Soaked by rain, Jock demands that the fire be lit; Will falls from the chimney choked with smoke, surprising Jock as he runs out the door.

Norman Norquoy has heard the song since he was small. Jock Dass also heard it being sung by Davy Watt.

Item Notes

6½ verses with a vocable refrain of 1 line.

See:
'Tocher' 48/49 (1994) pp. 411-412

This song is a version of 'Will the Weaver' (Roud Folk Song Index no. 432), for which see:
Greig-Duncan vol. 7, pp. 327-333, no. 1461
'Sam Henry's Songs of the People' (G. Huntington, 1990) p. 505
'Everyman's Book of British Ballads' (R. Palmer, 1980) pp. 202-204
'Ballads & Sea Songs from Nova Scotia' (W. Roy MacKenzie, 1928) pp. 328-329
'Folk Songs of the Catskills' (N. Cazden, H. Haufrecht & N. Studer, 1982) pp. 516-518
Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Harding B 25(2078) (London, 1780-1812), Harding B 28(179)/Harding B 28(151) (Liverpool, 1820-1824), Firth c.18(254)/Harding B 11(4247) (London,1863-1885), Harding B 16(310b)/Firth c.18(255) (London, 1819-1844)

Recording Location

County - Orkney

Parish - South Ronaldsay

Island - South Ronaldsay

Language

English, Scots

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good