Hey, Donal from Five Gears by Syncopaths
5. Hey, Donal
This cheery love song was written by Mary Brooksbank (1897-1958), an Aberdeen-born jute mill worker, activist, poet, and songwriter. Christa learned it from a field recording she made of an unnamed singer at a session during a memorable summer spent in Helensburgh, Scotland. We finish with a Synco-fied and heavily transposed version of Jay Ungar's classic tune.
Tracklist
| 5. | Hey, Donal | 2:37 |
Lyrics
5. Hey, Donal
Words by Mary Brooksbank
As I cam by Strathmartine Mains
Wha dae ye think I seen
But a braw young piper laddie cam
A-linkin ower the green
Singin 'Hey Donal, Ho Donal
Dirrum a doo a day'
He played a reel, an he played a jig
An he played a sweet strathspey
He roosed ma hairt till the beat kept time
Tae the tappin o my tae
Oh I've nae gowd tae offer ye
For I've gaithered little gear
But we'll hae love an freedom
Gin ye'll follow me my dear
There's gowd in the broom o the Sidlaw Hills
Honey frae the heather sweet
There's a speckled troot in the purlin tarn
A velvet carpet 'neath oor feet
Syne he blew up his chanter
An sic a spring he plays
That I chose love an freedom
Now ah wander a' my days
Credits
5. Hey, Donal / Vladimir's Steamboat
Hey, Donal (Brooksbank) / Vladimir's Steamboat (Ungar)
Christa Burch, vocals, bodhrán
Ryan McKasson, fiddle
Ashley Broder, mandolin
Jeffrey Spero, keyboard
License
All rights reserved.
From dance floors to concert halls, the Syncopaths bring a fresh, contemporary spin to music and songs rooted in the Scottish, Irish, and American folk traditions. The exuberant joy they derive from the music and each other is palpable and contagious. "The Syncopaths are nothing short of a Celtic supergroup." — Irish Herald, July 2011