Do you know this song ?

[Susie Q]

Back in the day, when we used to have BIG family gatherings, and everyone had a party piece, I remember a particular song being sung. I'm wondering if it was widely known or made up by my uncles & aunties.

The chorus was :
Swing yer Maw, swing yer Paw, honey, oh honey
Swing yer Maw, swing yer Paw, honey, baby.
Swing yer Maw, swing yer Paw.
Swing that lassie wi' the laughin' jaw
Honey, oh baby mine.
For we're going to the barn dance tonight.

The verses were made up on the spot, usually making fun of those unfortunates who'd done something daft. Never to be forgotten, but imortalised in song !
So, TS members, does this ring a bell with you ?

Best Wishes
Cath

[Merlot]

Hi Susie Q,

Yes I 've heard this, however, with different words.

Swing yer Maw, Swing yer Paw,
Swing yer Granny through the wa,
Come tae the Barrowland tonight.


(Must be the Glasgow version, )


Cheers,
Merlot

[paddyscar]

Hi Susie Q:

There was a television programme in Canada 1959 - 1969, called Don Messer's Island Jubilee from Nova Scotia. There may very well be a connection to your song.

These are the links to that programme where you will hear the music melody from the opening, unfortunately, it doesn't carry on to the end where two regular singers would join in, and end it with "'Got my dancin' boots on, got my Sunday best / Goin' to the Barn Dance tonight...."

http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainme ... ips/13353/

http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/messer/.

There is also another site with a sample of the song at:
http://www.sandersmusic.com/bootnote.html?cut=1

Hope this helps,
Frances

[keewik]

I learned this when I was a student at Glasgow Uni (how twee!). It went ...

Who's gawn doon tae the Barrowland, honey, oh honey?
Who's gawn doon tae the Barrowland, honey baybee?
Who's gawn doon tae the Barrowland,
Aw the wee hairies in the land,
Come to the Barrowland tonigh(ah-ah)t

Swing yer maw
Swing yer paw,
Swing yer granny though the wa',
Come to the Barrowland tonigh(ah-ah)t

Who's that guy with the hair crew-cut, honey, oh honey?
Who's that guy with the hair crew-cut, honey, baybee?
Who's that guy with the hair crew-cut?
I'll bet he's got a scabby nut.
Come to the Barrowland tonigh(ah-ah)t

Swing yer maw etc.

Who's the conductor on this bus, Honey, oh honey?
Who's the conduictor on theis bus, honey, baybee?
Who'd the conductor on this bus?
He's got a face like an octopus,
Come to the Barrowland tonigh(ah-ah)t.

Swing yer maw etc.

I suspect there were many other verses, but these were the ones I knew.

Ahhhh - memories (sigh)

[Libisa]

Remember this verse "Who's that guy wi the denims on, honey oh honey, who's that guy wi the denims on, babe oh babe, who's that guy wi the denims on. bet his best suits in the pawn. Aye, the house parties were something else eh! House was mobbed with aunties, uncles, cousins. No fighting or any serious fall outs. And guess what no drugs. Aye we could enjoy ourselves without that.

One of my favourite songs was the the beatles yellow submarine, sung to "we all live in a corporation hoose" lol.