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To the Weaver’s Gin Ye Go

[ Roud V22409 ; Robert Burns]

Isla Cameron and Ewan MacColl sang To the Weavers Gin Ye Go in 1958 on their Riverside album English and Scottish Love Songs. Kenneth S. Goldstein noted:

Journeyman weavers who, in the days before the big mills, used to travel from town to town weaving cloth in the farmhouse kitchens or in odd rooms rented for a brief stay, are featured in many songs as a reckless lot of amorists. Robert Burns wrote the song and set it to an old tune. The two featured singers are heard together on this selection only.

The Tannahill Weavers sang Tae the Weavers Gin Ye Gang in 1971 on their eponymous Plant Life album The Tannahill Weavers. They noted:

Tradition has it that, at this time, all young women carried a lemon in case of seduction. In most cases (such as this) it was of little or no value as a deterrent. It did, however, take the smile off their faces before they got home.

Jean Redpath sang To the Weaver’s Gin Ye Go on her 1976 album The Songs of Robert Burns Volume 1. Serge and Esther Hovey noted, quoting the Interleaved Museum:

The chorus of this song is old, the rest of it is mine. Here, once for all, let me apologize for many silly compositions of mine in this work (The Scots Musical Museum). Many beautiful airs wanted words; in the hurry of other avocations, if I could string a parcel of rhymes together anything near tolerable, I was fain to let them pass. He must be an excellent poet indeed, whose every performance is excellent.

Andy M. Stewart sang To the Weaver’s Gin Ye Go on his 1989 album Songs of Robert Burns and on his 1990 album with Manus Lunny, At It Again. He noted:

The poet says in his manuscript notes: “The chorus of this song is old, the rest is mine. Here, once for all, let me apologise for many silly compositions of mine in this work. Many beautiful airs wanted words, and, in hurry of other avocations, if I could string a parcel of rhymes together anything nearly tolerable, I was fain to let them pass. He must be an excellent poet, indeed, whose every performance is excellent.”

(From The People’s Edition of the Poetical Works of Robert Burns)

Janet Russell sang To the Weaver’s Gin You Go in 1996 on Volume 1 of the Linn Records anthology The Complete Songs of Robert Burns.

The Australian quartet Co-cheòl sang To the Weavers Gin Ye Go in 2016 on their CD Stay a While. They noted:

This song is about a young lass who falls for the charms of a Weaver lad. We enjoyed giving it our own Co-cheòl twist with body percussion and requisite harmonies.

Robyn Stapleton sang Tae the Weavers on her 2017 CD Songs of Robert Burns. She noted:

This song is a warning to young lassies, to be wary of the weavers, for fear they’ll leave you heart-broken. I first heard it several years ago, sung by Andy M. Stewart, and loved his lively rendition.

Lyrics

Andy M. Stewart sings To the Weaver’s Gin Ye Go

Chorus (after each verse):
To the weaver‘s gin ye go, fair maids,
To the weaver‘s gin ye go.
I rede you right, gang ne’er at night,
To the weaver‘s gin ye go.

My heart was ance as blythe and free
As simmer days were lang
But a bonie, westlin weaver lad
Has gart me change my sang.

My mither sent me to the town
To warp a plaiden wab,
But the weary, weary warpin o’t
Has gart me sigh and sab.

A bonie, westlin weaver lad
Sat working at his loom,
He took my heart, as wi’ a net,
In every knot and thrum.

I sat beside my warpin-wheel
And aye I ca’d it roun’.
But every shot and evey knock
My heart it gae a stoun.

The moon was sinking in the west
Wi’ visage pale and wan
As my bonie, westlin weaver lad
Convoy’d me thro’ the glen.

But what was said, or what was done,
Shame fa’ me gin I tell.
But Oh! I fear the kintra soon
Will ken as weel’s mysel.