Spine tingling. The John Anderson in my life wasn't my love he was my safe haven, my friend, my mentor, my partner in crime, my uncle, my fiercest critic and of course my most staunch supporter. He's been gone 13 years but I'm not alone, every time I have a hill to climb a giant of a man with wild black curls and a kick in his step wraps my little hand in his a asks "What are we waiting for"
John Anderson, my jo, John Anderson, my jo, When we were first acquent; (acquent-acquainted) Your locks were like the raven, Your bonie brow was brent; (bonny-beautiful, brent-polished new) But now your brow is beld, John, (beld-bald) And your locks are like the snaw; (snaw-snow) But blessings on your frosty pow, (pow-head) John Anderson, my jo. John Anderson, my jo, We climb the hill thegither; (thegither-together) And manys a cantie day, John, (cantie-great) We've had wi' ane anither: (one anither- together) Now we maun totter down, John, (maun totter down-must climb down) And hand in hand we'll go, To sleep thegither at the foot, John Anderson, my jo.
"Brent" does not mean polished or new. It means tanned (sun-browned). Similar to the German "gebrannt" or the English burnt. "Cantie" means merry or joyful.
These are the lyrics I learned in school (without the melody). But yhefe's another version attributed to Robert Burns, in Scottish English, much longer, and very explicit!
Absolutely Beautiful! The plus side is the serenely sensitive setting which is so much better than the terrible Bow Geste setting which destroys the wonderful singing.
Ah'm scunnert wae Scots singers yasin English in Scots songs. Is it embarrassment that they seek to distance themselves from the language of our fathers? Ah like yer voice hen bit yer cringe is showin.
Spine tingling. The John Anderson in my life wasn't my love he was my safe haven, my friend, my mentor, my partner in crime, my uncle, my fiercest critic and of course my most staunch supporter. He's been gone 13 years but I'm not alone, every time I have a hill to climb a giant of a man with wild black curls and a kick in his step wraps my little hand in his a asks "What are we waiting for"
If there's a drop of Scottish blood in ye, this can't help but hit you directly in the heart.
John Anderson, my jo, John Anderson, my jo,
When we were first acquent; (acquent-acquainted)
Your locks were like the raven,
Your bonie brow was brent; (bonny-beautiful, brent-polished new)
But now your brow is beld, John, (beld-bald)
And your locks are like the snaw; (snaw-snow)
But blessings on your frosty pow, (pow-head)
John Anderson, my jo.
John Anderson, my jo,
We climb the hill thegither; (thegither-together)
And manys a cantie day, John, (cantie-great)
We've had wi' ane anither: (one anither- together)
Now we maun totter down, John, (maun totter down-must climb down)
And hand in hand we'll go,
To sleep thegither at the foot,
John Anderson, my jo.
"Brent" does not mean polished or new. It means tanned (sun-browned). Similar to the German "gebrannt" or the English burnt. "Cantie" means merry or joyful.
such a pure beautiful voice, amazing.
This is superb.
Just love this! Many thanks to you and to reliablebow who shared with us! Bright stars and hugs..Jan and Susan ♥
Beautiful !!
Beautifully sung
Thank you so much for this wonderful share dear friend. Bless you..Jan and Susan ♥
I’m at a loss for words. How to convey goosebumps?
I so love this girl ❤️❤️🙈
I'm transported back to the Strathclyde. Thank you.
Keirfree, there are 2 possible translations: one is it's short for joy and the other is that it means sweetheart.
This is a nice song.
These are the lyrics I learned in school (without the melody). But yhefe's another version attributed to Robert Burns, in Scottish English, much longer, and very explicit!
Absolutely Beautiful! The plus side is the serenely sensitive setting which is so much better than the terrible Bow Geste setting which destroys the wonderful singing.
top notch
It's not on Spotify anymore
What is the copyright position on playing this at my dad's funeral please?
If anyone wants to hear an especially beautiful version, try to look up John Anderson by Mhairi Lawson.
Just found that one but it does nothing for me. I'm not Scottish but Eddi's version gets to me.
Comparing Eddi with Isobel Baillie. It's apples and oranges.
How dare she mess up this beautiful song :(
+doodlethecat It's a poem with no music other that that the singer prefers. This arrangement is magical.
Ah'm scunnert wae Scots singers yasin English in Scots songs. Is it embarrassment that they seek to distance themselves from the language of our fathers? Ah like yer voice hen bit yer cringe is showin.