He also wonders whether the song by john watt, the kelty clippie, which he quotes, may be one of the only fictional celebrations of. Step right this way is a trip to the circus in the age before electronic media supplanted live shows, and the beautiful, large photos reproduced in the book let us wade right into that age. Arts and culture climb aboard the kelty clippie s musical bus. Dec 08, 2005 john thomson, the celtic and scotland goalkeeper, died at the tender age of 22 years, in the evening of 5 september 1931, following a tragic accident during a match against rangers. John watt and davey stewart with the beggars mantle ceilidh band kelty clippie lochaber gathering tam bains lum springthyme uk sp 2. An anthology by arthur nevay robert macleod, arthur nevay, margaret bennett, william hershaw on. The song, taken from john watt and davey stewarts 1976 album shores of the forth. Unfrotunately there was no lyrics following the cd, and i cannot understand all of the words a dane like me has difficulties with some of the scottish way of pronouncing words. The club used to meet at a cellar bar in chalmers street called the howff and was so well known on the folk music circuit. He was born into a musical family in dunfermline on march 23, 1933. This likeness was sculptured by jan miller and can be seen in the kelty library.
By that time, john thomson had four international caps. Shes just a kelty clippie but i love her just the same. Win tickets to this legendary show central fife times. His work inspired the late john watt, whose songs such as fifes got everything and the kelty clippie share macleods irreverent wit.
John watt and davey stewart with the beggars mantle. John watt was one of the scottish folk scenes most charismatic characters, a songwriter of great talent and perception and a tireless champion of folk and traditional music for more than fifty years. A dunfermline song book dunfermline folk club about. The song celebrates the passing of way of life the bus conductress known in fife as the clippie. Ive been searching for the lyrics to this song for two years with no success. Author of pittenweem jo, john thomson and of course, the kelty clippie. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from john watt at the discogs marketplace. Apologies for the apparent radio silence, but there has been a shuffling around in the background in relation to the first gig of the year. John watt was not only the composer of classics such as kelty clippie listen below, pittenweem jo and the brilliant fifes got everything, he was also the founder of dunfermlines famous folksong club in 1961. Tam bains lum by springthyme from desktop or your mobile device. This is the first ever anthology of writing about fife, a part of scotland with an immensely rich tradition of history and literature. I have traveled round this country, from shore to shining shore, from the swamps of auchterderren, tae the jungles o lochore, but in a the. Some of john s songs such as kelty clippie and pittenweem jo have become classics, and have been recorded by several other singers since john and davey first recorded them here in 1976.
I have travelled roon this country from shore to shining shore, frae the swamps o auchterderan tae the. The kelty clippie this song is by the mccalmans and appears on the album at your service 1980. I believe that he is the only football player to have died on the pitch during a game. His work was greatly valued by the late john watt, whose songs such as fifes got everything and the kelty clippie share macleods irreverent wit. Some of johns songs such as kelty clippie and pittenweem jo have become. New date announced for comedy musical in fife fife today. Heroes john watt and friends contains day that billy. Kelty clippie by springthyme springthyme records free. Mr watt, who died four years ago, was the founder of the first dunfermline folk club, which went on. Recommend this fascinating 7part john watt interview by brian noble. The fife folksinger and composer, john watt, wrote his most famous song about them, the kelty clippie who hasnae got nae culture and reads the peoples friend. John watt and davey stewart at collessie 160510 youtube. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Among arthurs papers is a letter from john stating that lines like these should not be forgotten.
Oct 19, 2015 dunfermline folk festival will pay tribute to one of the giants of the musical world, john watt. This is an index of the folk songs in books and recordings in my collection, plus some of the books and recordings in the collections of friends. A klippie was a term used for female conductesess on. Hopefully you will find the most popular version here. Well it was this weekend for our illustrious bass man and chief music biz connector, dh. Kelty clippie the musical returns to fife after a second sell out run at edinburgh fringe. Fifes got everything according to the song by john and davey. Stream kelty clippie by springthyme from desktop or your mobile device. John watt s classic folk song will be heard along with original songs like i want this, ringing the. Shes just a kelty clippie, but i love her just the same. A great activist for traditional music, he is best remembered for the songs the kelty clippie above and fifes got everything. Among arthurs papers is a letter from john stating that lines like these should not be forgotten neither should we forget the miner who penned them.
Chorus shes just a kelty clippie, shell no tak nae advice. From the album shores of the forth on springthyme records. Based on the popular song by john watt, kelty clippie the musical follows the comic adventures of a bus conductress in fife. It gathers together all the great characters of scottish history who have acted out their dramas within the famous kingdom of fife st margaret and alexander i, james vi and the earl of moray, cardinal beaton and archbishop sharp, mary, queen of scots and. The emphasis is on traditional folk songs in the english language, though there are songs in other languages notably french, modern folk songs. Like kelty s photos, the book says just enough, so that the curious quality of the artist and his work can speak for itself. The fife based kingdom theatre company continued their success after selling out all shows at edinburgh fringe 2018.
The idea was to bring together songs with a dunfermline connection that people might think to sing. John watt respected folk bard of fife, whose songs. Ive traivelled thru this country from shore to shining shore from the swamps of auchterderran tae the jungles o lochore but in all these farflung places theres nane that can compare wi the lily of lumphinnans, shes ma bonnie maggie blair. Some of johns songs such as kelty clippie and pittenweem jo have become classics and have been recorded by several other singers since john and. Published on may 28, 2010 john and davey sing the keltie clippie during the hilarious morning session at the fife traditional singing weekend at collessie, after john had been interviewed by. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.
Some of johns songs such as kelty clippie and pittenweem jo have become classics, and have been recorded by several other singers since john and davey. Kelty in past times photographs of kelty from days gone by. John watt and davey stewart shores of the forth music scotland. However, it doesnt mention the story jack beck tells above, so thanks, jack. Norman buchan and peter hall, the scottish folksinger glasgow.
Some of john s songs such as kelty clippie and pittenweem jo have become classics and have been recorded by several other singers since john and davey first recorded them in 1976. The title song shores of the forth is one of the few songs on the album that was not written by john watt. A number of sarcastic and tasteless parables lampooning the scottish political elite and their total failure to inject any life into the scottish referendum. There is a video on youtube of john watt and davie stewart singing keltie clippie at the fifesing. An anthology by arthur nevay introduction and edited by margaret bennett arthur nevay has collected over 120 compositions by former cowdenbeath. Kelty clippie is a well known scottish folk song written by john watt from fife all about a clippie bus conductress and a humorous romance between her and her lover. If ever a songwriter could be said to have given authentic voice to fife and its characters, neuks and cronies, dunfermline man john watt 19332011 fits the bill. Oct 30, 2015 his work inspired the late john watt, whose songs such as fifes got everything and the kelty clippie share macleods irreverent wit. Robert macleod, cowdenbeath miner poet book depository.
John watt was one of the scottish folk scenes most charismatic characters, a songwriter of great talent and perception and a tireless champion of folk and. Nov 24, 2015 he also raised the spirit of the community, with his droll, witty, oneliners that made folk laugh. Frae the pyramids up in kelty, tae the mansions in glencraig. On it he sings his own compositions such as the kelty clippie, pittenweem jo, charlie dickson of dunfermline athletic fc fame john thomsonfloors o. The tom bliss folksong workblook part 2 in toms songwriting workshop book. Mar 09, 2010 also onstage will be tich frier, brenda frier and local legend john watt, best known for songs such as the kelty clippie, pittenweem jo and fifes got everything. Scottish folk music lyrics for a wide range of scottish songs. I used to be very quiet in those days and would sit at the back, usually reading a book. Ive traivelled thru this country from shore to shining shore. Shes just a kelty clippie, shell no tak nae advice its, ach drap deid or ahll bile yer heid or ahll punch yer ticket twice her faithers jist a waster, her mithers oan the game shes just a kelty clippie but i love her just the same. Full house as kelty clippie returns to fife fife today. William john bill kelty, ac born 5 february 1948 is an australian trade unionist and a wellknown figure in the australian labour movement, who served as secretary of the australian council of trade unions actu from 1983 to 2000. John watt was the unruly spirit of fife, a oneoff singer, songwriter, organiser and raconteur who chronicled his beloved kingdom in such witty songs as the kelty clippie and fifes got everything, and whose roistering good humour belied a profound commitment to traditional music.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Kelty clippie john watt shes just a kelty clippie, shell no tak nae advice its, ach drap deid or ahll bile yer heid or ahll punch yer ticket twice her faithers jist a waster, her mithers oan the game shes just a kelty clippie but i love her just the same. John watt was the unruly spirit of fife, a oneoff singer, songwriter, organiser and raconteur who chronicled his beloved kingdom in such witty songs as the kelty clippie and fifes got everything, and whose roistering good humour belied a. Kelty clippie john watt and davey stewart duration. Barbara donnachie coolies reel the ash plant the corner house 11. Wick goes to school the wick and kelty adventures book 2 kindle edition by miller, brian, miller, kristy, miller, brian. Their comedy, kelty clippie the musical, was a huge success and rab noakes was heard to say it was a great show when he attended a performance and was joined by cathy watt, whose late husband wrote the original song in the 1960s. Join facebook to connect with john bob kelty and others you may know. In rab noakes opinion john watt is, as to many, a totally unique character and is arguably fifes foremost contemporary chronicler in song. Kelty clippie is a wellknown scottish folk song written by john watt from fife all about a clippie bus conductress and a humorous romance. John watt was one of the scottish folk scenes most charismatic characters, a songwriter. Starring jacqueline hannan and directed by laura jordan reed this promises to be a great night of laughs as we follow the fortunes of maggie blai. Come oan, get aff come and hear kelty clippie composer. We were supposed to kick off 2020 on the 29th february at.
Starring jacqueline hannan and directed by laura jordan reed this promises to be a great night of laughs as we follow the fortunes of maggie blair. A dunfermline song book the songs in this book were collected in the run up to the 2014 dunfermline folk weekend, and a number of them were sung at that event. Mar 07, 2020 conductors may no longer have a presence on buses in fife, but a folk song immortalises the kelty clippie. John watt and davey stewart with the beggars mantle ceilidh band discography. The kelty clippie paper mache kelty clippie modelled on barbara dickson who sang with john watt and his group in her early years. There can be many variations on scottish traditional song lyrics and tunes. Time flies the kelty clippie article by john watt himself appeared in living tradition no 26 1998. Kelty clippie the musical filmed at greenside nicolson square for fringe 2018. John watt, wrote his most famous song about them, the kelty clippie who hasnae got nae culture and reads the peoples friend. The life and times of fife bus crews in the 1970s and the role of the clippies is the theme of a. John watt was the unruly spirit of fife, a oneoff singer, songwriter. Wick goes to school the wick and kelty adventures book 2. Kelty clippie john watt and davey stewart follow around fife on facebook springthyme records springthyme music ww. The kelty clippie written by john watt, the song became a hit as soon as it was recorded released first on a vinyl lp in 1976.
The kelty clippie jockys incredible flight my true loves a sailor katie bairdie the gallowa hills ma maws a millionaire fine flowers in the valley when i was single john barleycorn poor rovin lassie lord lovat. Dunfermline folk festival to pay tribute to club founder john. Check out kelty clippie by benarty on amazon music. Conductors may no longer have a presence on buses in fife, but a folk song immortalises the kelty clippie. The kelty clippie john watt ive traivelled thru this country from shore to shining shore from the swamps of auchterderran tae the jungles o lochore but in all these farflung places theres nane that can compare wi the lily of lumphinnans, shes ma bonnie maggie blair chorus shes just a kelty clippie, shell no tak nae advice.