'The Witches Reel' 16th Century Scottish Folk Cover (Re-recorded Dark Mix)

[Greeny]

*** TOTALLY RE-RECORDED VERSION ****


Wasn't going to post this little 2 minute oddment (was keeping it as a private obsession!), but henny's latest pirate tune gave me the courage  

This is a traditional 16th century folk song from Scotland set around some witch trials. It's not that well known, but there's a bit on Wiki about it and a few covers here and there. I stumbled upon it a few weeks ago and became obsessed with the tune.

I'm playing it on guitar and autoharp, with three layers of vocal.

An acquired taste - won't be everyone's cup of tea!!!!!


Cummer go ye before, Cummer go ye
If ye willna go before, Cummer let me
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Linkin lithley widdershins,
Cummer Carlin Crone and Queyn
Roun gae we

Cummer go ye before, Cummer go ye
If ye willna go before, Cummer let me
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Loupin' lightly widdershins
Kilted coats and fleein' hair
Three times three

Cummer go ye before, cummer go ye
If ye willna go before, cummer let me
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Whirlin' skirlin' widdershins
De'il tak the hindmost
Wha'er she be

[Oldrottenhead]

bloody hell tim, loving that autoharp. loving the vox (not the best scottish accent i've ever heard tho  ) recently saw the movie "fields of england" and this would have sat nicely on the soundtrack. weird n wunnerful.

[Greeny]

loving the vox (not the best scottish accent i've ever heard tho   )

I've only heard English folk bands doing it, so no idea how it would sound done properly! Maybe you should?! It's a two chord song - I'm mainly using D and C, but I think it's one of those where you can just do what feels right!

[Oldrottenhead]

i have only ever heard you singing it tim, so as it was a scottish song i  assumed you where singing in a scottish dialect.

[henwrench]

I stumbled upon it a few weeks ago and became obsessed with the tune.

      Yep, that's what gets me about the really old stuff. I dunno if these tunes are somehow ingrained into some weird music DNA, but one can get completely and utterly obsessed with them, to the absolute point of madness.

      Never come across this one before, but I'm so glad you posted it. Will get many listens. And, yep, the autoharp is simply wonderful. Love it.

                                                                henwrench

[Greeny]

In case anyone is wondering what an autoharp is! This is mine...

[64Guitars]

Brilliant. I love hearing these very old folk songs. The vocals are excellent and I love the autoharp and guitar. Great arrangement too.

I found a good website with lyrics and background stories for many old Scottish songs like this.

http://sangstories.webs.com/

It has lots of interesting info on "Witches Reel". Among other things, it says: "It is the first written record of a reel in Scotland."

http://sangstories.webs.com/witchesreel.htm

[Geir]

An acquired taste - won't be everyone's cup of tea!!!!!

Well it is my cup of tea for sure !!

Totally brilliant !

Crisp crael recording and production, and I do love the way you sing it.

Oh and that auto-harp sounds so great as well !! Must be a PITA to tune tho

[Jarle]

I absolutely love it. The autoharp sounds great. Thanks for posting a picture, I did not know what it was.

JOA

[cuthbert]

Count me among the impressed! Great interplay between the guitar and autoharp, and love the lyrics (and your delivery).

I've got a soft spot for the autoharp, of course. Need to dig mine out again...