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Jamie Raeburn

[ Roud 600 / Song Subject MAS497 ; Master title: Jamie Raeburn ; G/D 8:1535 ; Henry H151 ; Ballad Index MA085 ; MusTrad MT222 ; DT JIMRAEBN ; Mudcat 46759 ; trad.]

Norman Buchan: 101 Scottish Songs Sheila Douglas: Come Gie’s a Sang The Sang’s the Thing Robert Ford: Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland, Alan Helsdon: Vaughan Williams in Norfolk Gale Huntington: Sam Henry’s Songs of the People Peggy Seeger, Ewan MacColl: The Singing Island Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger: Travellers’ Songs From England and Scotland John Ord: Bothy Songs and Ballads Roy Palmer: Folk Songs Collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams Elizabeth Stewart: Up Yon Wide and Lonely Glen

Jessie Murray, a fishwife from Buckie, sang Jimmy Raeburn in a recording madwe by Alan Lomax, at the 1951 Edinburgh People’s Festival Ceilidh. Probably the same recording is also on the anthology Fair Game and Foul (The Folk Songs of Britain Volume 7; Caedmon 1961; Topic 1970). The album’s booklet noted:

This tragic story of a Scots lad, convicted of poaching and transported for life to Australia, was long a popular ballad in Scotland. Jimmy Raeburn was a baker by trade. His sweet-heart, Catherine Chandlier, tells the story of his arrest:

We parted at 10 o’clock, and Jamie was in the police office at twenty minutes past ten. Going home, he met an acquaintance of his boyhood, who took him in to treat him for auld lang syne. Scarcely had they entered when the detectives appeared and apprehended him. Searched, the stolen property was found. They were tried and banished for life to Botany Bay. Jamie was innocent as the unborn babe, but his heartless companion spoke not a word of his innocence.

Davie Stewart sang Jamie Raeburn in 1957 to Alan Lomax in his London apartment. This recording was included in 2002 on his Rounder anthology Go On, Sing Another Song. The album’s booklet noted:

Song collector and editor Robert Ford said in 1901 that Raeburn was a baker convicted of theft and banished to Australia in the 1840s. His sweetheart, Catherine Chandlier, blamed a childhood friend of Raeburn’s who met him casually, and took him to have a drink; then the pair were arrested and the friend was found to have stolen property on him. Chandlier said, “Jamie was innocent as the unborn babe, but his heartless companion spoke not a word of his innocence.” The tune is The Plains of Waterloo. Davie sings a last verse usually omitted by present-day singers in these more irreligious times.

Ewan MacColl sang Jamie Raeburn’s Farewell in 1956 on his Riverside album Scots Street Songs and in 1960 on his Topic album Chorus From the Gallows. He noted:

In Robert Ford’s Vagabond Songs and Ballads we are told that the hero of this broadsheet ballad was a baker by trade who was sentenced to banishment to Botany Bay for a theft of which his sweetheart claims he was completely innocent. The ballad found its way into the bothies and has been kept alive by North-Eastern plowmen for more than 100 years. I have it from the singing of my father; the text has been collated with a version in Ord’s Bothy Songs and Ballads.

Tom Scott sang Jimmy Raeburn at Hawick, Roxburghshire, on 20 August 1960. This recording was released in the same year on the Folkways album of songs and dances of the English-Scottish border, The Border. The album’s booklet noted:

A similar text of this very popular street ballad is given in Ford’s Vagabond Songs, and it has been traced to a penny broadsheet published in the 1840s. Ford states that Raeburn was transported for theft. The singer, Tom Scott is the older brother of Will[ie] Scott, who sang A Shepherd’s Life. Tom is six years older than Will. He is living in Hawick now, a warm, friendly man with a sincere affection for his “Old songs”.

Martyn Wyndham-Read sang Jamie Raeburn’s Farewell in 1963 on his, Brian Mooney’s and David Lumsden’s Australian album Moreton Bay and in 1971 on his eponymous Trailer album, Martyn Wyndham-Read.

Daisy Chapman sang Jimmy Raeburn at the Aberdeen Folk Festival in October 1967. This recording made by Peter Shepheard (PS:1967.7.8) was included in 2000 on her Musical Traditions anthology of songs from Buchan, Ythanside. Rod Stradling noted:

This song remains popular and widely known in the living tradition in Scotland today. It is in Greig’s Folk-Song of the North-East and also Ford’s Vagabond Songs (published 1899) which was a widely available publication in the early part of the century. There are 48 examples in Roud; the vast majority are from Scotland, but it’s also found in Australia, USA, the north of Ireland and in England, too. There are eight other known sound recordings, of which probably only Jim McGonigle (Inishowen Trad. Singers ITSC001), Jeannie Robertson (Folktracks 60-187), Davie Stewart (Folktracks FSA180) and Phoebe Smith (Veteran VT136CD) are still available.

Willie Scott sang Jamie Raeburn to Bill Leader in Camden Town, London, on 3 November 1967. This recording was published in the following year of his album of Border ballads, The Shepherd’s Song. Maurice Lindsay noted:

A Glasgow song about a man expecting to be transported for a crime the nature of which we are not told. According to Robert Ford, editor of Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland, Raeburn was a baker, unjustly accused of theft and banished for life to Botany Bay, c.1840. However, the Glasgow policeman and folk song enthusiast, Supt. John Ord, had all the criminal records searched from 1833 on, without finding trace of Raeburn’s conviction. Still, the song, is a great favourite. “One of the most popular folk songs we have”, says Gavin Greig.

Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise sang Jamie Raeburn in 1976 on their eponymous German Autogram album, Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise.

Ian Manuel sang Jamie Raeburn on his 1977 Topic album of Scots traditional songs, The Dales of Caledonia. A.L. Lloyd noted:

“One of the most popular folk songs we have”, said Gavin Greig, and Robert Ford reported it was “a popular street song all over Scotland, and sold readily in penny sheet form”. According to Ford, James Raeburn was sentenced to transportation c.1840 for theft. Others say the crime was forgery and the banishment was earlier. The policeman-folklorist John Ord searched the criminal records as far back as 1833, but got no clue. However, the song lives on, attached to several tunes. This one is substantially as given in Ord’s Bothy Songs and Ballads.

Phoebe Smith sang Johnny Abourne—which seems to be a mis-hearing of Jamie Raeburn—to Mike Yates in 1975 or 1976. This recording was included in 1977 on the Topic anthology of Gypsy singers, The Travelling Songster and in 2001 on her Veteran anthology The Yellow Handkerchief. Johh Howson and Mike Yates noted:

Johnny Abourne is thought by most scholars to concern one James Raeburn, a Glasgow bakery worker, who is believed to have been transported to Australia in the first half of the 19th century. (Although rumour has it that the Scottish collector Superintendent John Ord of the Glasgow Police failed to trace Raeburn’s supposed crime in police records.) The song appeared on numerous 19th-century English broadsides as The Hills of Caledonia but, to my knowledge, this is only the third set to have been collected so far in England, Ralph Vaughan Williams having previously noted it in Norfolk, and George Gardiner a set in Hampshire which has so far remained unpublished. The following verse, noted by John Meredith in Australia, is possibly nearer to the original than Phoebe’s 3rd verse:

I slowly rose, put on my clothes, my heart was filled with grief,
My comrades standing round me could grant me no relief.
As I stepped into the morning coach my heart was filled with woe
For to leave my friends, hills and dales of Caledonia.

As will be seen, Phoebe’s text has Abourne transported to Canada—no doubt as a result of an English singer’s mishearing of the word Caledonia.

Danny Spooner sang Jamie Raeburn in 1978 on Gordon McIntyre’s and his Larrikin album Revived and Relieved!.

Alistair Russell sang Jamie Raeburn in 1983 on his album Getting to the Border. He noted:

One of the relatively few Scottish songs about the transportation of convicts, usually to Australia.

The Tannahill Weavers sang Jamie Raeburn’s Farewell in 1984 on their Green Linnet album Passage. They noted:

A song of enforced emigration, where poor Jamie must leave his native Glasgow, probably for Australia which was, at the time, a penal colony. We are, unfortunately, left to imagine for ourselves the nature of his crime, there being no clue whatsoever in the song lyrics. However, the times being what they were, it could have been anything from a murder to the theft of the smallest coin of the realm. Perhaps he was a Scottish pervert—that’s a man who prefers women to whisky.

Lizzie Higgins sang Jamie Raeburn in a digital download bonus track of her 1985 Lismor album What a Voice.

Ossian sang Jamie Raeburn on their 1986 album Light on a Distant Shore; this track was also included in 1994 on their anthology The Best of Ossian. They noted:

According to Robert Ford in his Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland, Jamie Raeburn was a baker who was transported for theft. His sweetheart, Catherine Chandler, thus told the story of his misfortunes: “We parted at ten o’clock. Going home, Jamie met an acquaintance of his boyhood, who took him in to treat him for auld langsyne. Scarcely had they entered when the detectives appeared and apprehended them. Searched, the stolen property was found. They were tried and banished for life to Botany Bay. Jamie was innocent as the unborn babe, but his heartless companion spoke not a word of his innocence.” The song dates from the 1830’s.

Gordon Easton sang Jamie Raeburn in a recording made in between 1994 and 1996 on the 1997 Springthyme album of “new recordings from the North East Folklore Archive”, North East Tradition 1. He noted:

Weel I think it’s a great [song]. It’s a Glasga song actually, bit ’twis affa popular in the North East here … it wis sung an affa lot. In fact it’s sung tae the same tune as The Hairst o Rettie, exactly the same tune, so ’at’s the North East connection.

Gordon Easton also sang Jimmy Raeburn at the Fife Traditional Singing Festival, Collessie, Fife in between May 2004 and May 2007. This recording by Tom Spears was included in 2007 on his Autumn Harvest CD The Last of the Clydesdales. The album’s liner notes commented:

The hero of this well known transportation ballad is reputed to have been a baker in Glasgow sentenced for petty theft—a song that Gordon remembers from his grandmother and also from the singing of Jessie Murray from Portsoy.

Heather Heywood sang Jamie Raeburn in 2000 on her Tradition Bearers album Lassies Fair and Laddies Braw. She noted:

I heard this song from Mick West, a singer from Glasgow. Jamie Raeburn is reputed to have been a baker in Glasgow sentenced for petty theft to transportation to Australia—a harsh sentence for a crime of which, in popular opinion, he was innocent.

Douglas ‘Dougie’ Scott, son of Willie Scott, sang Jimmy Raeburn on the 2003 Kyloe CD of ballads, songs and tunes from the Scottish Borders recorded by Mike and Emma Yates, Borderers. Mike Yates noted:

Most scholars believe that Raeburn was a Glasgow bakery worker who was transported to Australia in the first half of the 19th century (although rumour has it that the Scottish song collector Superintendent John Ordof the Glasgow Police failed to trace Raeburn’s supposed crime in police records). The song appeared on numerous 19th-century broadsides as The Hills of Caledonia. Willie Scott’s version can be heard on The Shepherd’s Song.

Danny Stradling sang Johnny Heybourn on the 2005 Musical Traditions anthology of Songs From the Golden Fleece. She noted:

This version of Jamie Raeburn was sung by the magnificent singer Phoebe Smith. Phoebe was a great inspiration to me when my singing was ‘growing’. She was a lovely woman with a huge store of songs, always sung with great dignity and passion, as well as with humour; a fact which is not always acknowledged.

In the penultimate verse of this song Phoebe sang a sort of phonetic version of the lowland Scots she had heard in it. I changed it to make it singable for me.

Robert Lawrence sang Jamie Raeburn’s Farewell in 2010 on his CD of ‘Celtic folk songs’, The Journey Home. He noted:

Jamie Raeburn is reputed to have been a baker in Glasgow, convicted of petty theft of which (in folk lore at any rate) he was innocent. His sentence was Transportation to Australia. This song is his farewell lament to his family and sweetheart, whom he would probably never see again. Transportation was seen as a solution to the overcrowding of prisons and as a temporary measure. Transportation reached a peak in the 1830s and continued until 1857 by which time new prisons were opening in Britain, many of which are still in use today. Transportation was formally abolished in 1868.

Barbara Dickson sang Jamie Raeburn in 2011 on her Greentrax album Words Unspoken.

Ewan McLennan sang Jamie Raeburn in 2012 on his Fellside album The Last Bird to Sing. He noted:

This is a traditional Scottish song that takes up that theme common to folk song from around the British Isles, transportation. Though there’s no clear suggestion of it in the song, the protagonist is often said to have been falsely convicted. Its origins go back, at least, to its publication as a broadside ballad in Glasgow around the middle of the 19th century.

Andy Turner learned Johnny Abourne from Phoebe Smith’s recording and from John Ord’s Bothy Songs & Ballads. He sang it as the 11 February 2016 entry of his project A Folk Song a Week.

Claire Hastings sang Jamie Raeburn on her 2019 CD Those Who Roam. She noted:

A traditional song of transportation. ‘Jamie’ is said to have been a baker in Glasgow before being sentenced for petty theft and forced to emigrate (probably to Australia) as punishment.

Gillian Frame and Findlay Napier sang Jamie Raeburn on their 2020 album of songs from Norman Buchan’s late 1950s and early 1960s The Scotsman articles, The Ledger.

Lyrics

Jessie Murray sings Jimmy Raeburn

[ My name is Jimmy Raeburn, frae Glasgow Toon I came,
My place and habitation was forced to leave for shame,
My place and habitation noo I mun gang awa’
Far, far frae a’ the hills and dales o’ Caledonia. ]

It was early in the morning, before the dawn of day,
Our keeper he came round to us and unto us did say,
“Arise, you helpless convicts, arise, ye ain and a’
This is the day you have to stray frae Caledonia.”

We mounted the coach and our hairts was full of grief,
Our parents, wives and sweethearts could grant us no relief,
Our parents, wives and sweethearts their hairt was brak’ in twa.
To see us leave the hills and dales o’ Caledonia.

Farewell, my aged father, for you are the best of men,
And likewise to my sweethairt, for Catherine is her name,
Nac mair we’ll walk the Clyde’s clear streams nor by the Broomielaw,
Farewell to a’ the hills and dales o’ Caledonia.

[ Farewell my aged mother, and grieve for what I’ve done,
I hope none will cast up to you the race that I have run,
The Lord he will protec’ you, when I am far awa’,
Far frae a’ the hills and dales o’ Caledonia. ]

[ If ne’er we meet on earth again, we’ll meet in Heaven above,
Where Hallelujahs will be sung to Him who reigns in Love,
Nae earthly judge to judge us, but Him who rules us a’,
Farewell till a’ the hills and dales o’ Caledonia. ]

Davie Stewart sings Jamie Raeburn

Ma name is Jamie Raeburn, in Glasgow I was born,
My hame and habitation I’m forced tae leave in scorn.
My hame and habitation I am forced tae gang awa,
It’s to leave yon bonny hills and dales of Caledonia.

Early there one momin just by the break of day,
We overheard the turnkey, unto us he did say,
“Arise, you helpless convicts, arise, yin and aa,
For this is the day we stray away from Caledonia.”

We aa arose, put on our clothes, our hearts were full o grief,
Our friends they all stood around the coach, could grant us no relief.
Our friends they stood around the coach, their herts were broke in twa,
For to see us leave the bonny hills of Caledonia.

Fareweel, my aged mother, ah’m vexed for what I’ve done.
I hope that none will up to you cast the race that I’ve run.
I hope you’ll be provided for when I am far awa,
Far frae the bonny hills and dales of Caledonia.

Here’s to my honoured faither, he was the best of men,
Likewise now to my sweetheart, young Kathleen is her name.
Nae mair we’ll walk by the Clyde’s clear stream, or doon by the Broomielaw.
Fare ye weel, yon bonny hills and dales of Caledonia.

But e ’er we chance to meet again, I hope t’will be above,
Where Hallelujahs will be sang to Him who reigns in love.
No earthly judge will judge us then, for He that rules us aa.
Fare ye weel, ye bonny bills and dales o Caledonia.

Tom Scott sings Jimmy Raeburn

My name is Jimmy Raeburn, in Glasgow I was born.
My place and habitation I’m forced to leave with scorn.
My place and habitation I never gae awa’,
Frae the bonnie hills and dales of Caledonia.

’Twas early one morning just at the break of day.
I overheard the turnkey, wo unto us did say.
“Arise ye helpless convicts, arise ye yen and all,
This is the day ye are to stray from Caledonia.”

We all arose, put on our clothes, our hearts were filled with grief.
And all our friends stood ’round the coach could grant us no relief.
All all our friends stood ’round the coach, their hearts were broke in twa.
To see us leave the bonnie braes of Caledonia.

Farewell, my ancient mother, I’m vexed for what I’ve done.
I hope none will accost you the race that I have run.
I hope you’ll be provided for when I am far awa’,
For frae the bonnie hills and dales of Caledonia.

Farewell, my honoured father, he is the best of men,
And likewise my own sweetheart, it’s Catherine is her name.
Ne mair we’ll meet by Clyde’s clear stream, nor by the Broomielaw,
For I mun leave the hills and dales of Caledonia.

If en we chance to meet again, I hope ’twill be above,
Where hallelujas will be sung to Him who reigns in love.
Na earthly judge will judge us then, but He who rules us a’,
Farewell ye bonnie hills and dales of Caledonia.

Daisy Chapman sings Jimmy Raeburn

My name is Jimmy Raeburn, in Glesga I was born,
From my place and habitation I’m forced to leave in scorn;
From my place and habitation I noo must gang awa,
Far frae the bonnie hills and dales o’ Caledonia.

’Twas early one morning, just by the break of day,
I overheard the turnkey who unto us did say;
“Arise ye hapless convicts, arise ye ane an aa,
This is the day ye are to stray frae Caledonia.”

We all arose, put on our clothes, our hearts were full of grief,
Our friends they aa stood roond the coach, could grant us no relief;
Our friends they aa stood roond the coach, their hearts were broke in twa,
Tae see us leave the hills and dales o’ Caledonia.

Farewell my aged mother, I’m vexed for what I’ve done,
I hope none will upcast to you the race that I have run;
I hope you’ll be provided for when I am far awa,
Far frae the bonnie hills and dales o’ Caledonia.

Farewell my honoured father, he is the best of men,
And likewise my own sweetheart, ’tis Catherine is her name;
Nae mair we’ll walk by Clyde’s clear stream or by the Broomielaw,
For I must leave the hills and dales o’ Caledonia.

If e’er we chance to meet again, I hope ’twill be above,
Where hallelujah will be sung to Him who reigns in love;
Nae earthly judge shall judge us there but He who rules us aa,
Far frae the bonnie hills and dales o’ Caledonia.

Phoebe Smith sings Johnny Abourne

My name were Johnny Abourne, in Glasgow I were born.
My home and habitation that I have left and gone,
To leave those hills and bonny dales
To Canadee-i-o

Was on one Friday morning as we layed in our cells
Up stepped our boldly turnkey and these very words did say:
“Come rise you noble convicts I’ll warn you one and all
This is the day that we sail away to Canadee-i-o.”

We early rose, slipped on our clothes, our hearts were filled with grief.
Strong iron chains we boundly stayed near Carr-a-gang-awa.
No more I’ll meet near Claddy Banks
To Canadee-i-o.

Good luck unto my mother dear who reared me many of years
And through my sad misfortune she has shed many of bitter tears.
And likewise to my father dear, he is the best of all,
Now the seas shall roar between us all in Canadee-i-o.

Ossian sing Jamie Raeburn

Oh my name is Jamie Raeburn
From Glasgow town I came
My place of habitation
I’m forced to leave wi’ shame
From my place of habitation
I now maun gang awa’
Far frae the bonny hills and dales, o’ Caledonia.

It was early in the morning
Before the break o’ day
We were wakened by the turnkey
Who unto us did say
Arise ye hapless convicts
Arise ye ane and a’
This is the day ye are to stray from Caledonia.

Oh we all arose, put on our clothes
Our hearts were filled with grief
Our friends that stood about the coach
Could grant us no relief
Our parents, wives and sweethearts
Their hearts were broke in twa
To see us leave the hills and dales, o’ Caledonia.

Farewell my aged father
You are the best of men
And likewise my own sweetheart
It’s Catherine is her name
Nae mair we’ll walk by Clyde’s clear stream
Nor by the Broomielaw
For I maun leave the hills and dales, o’ Caledonia.

Danny Stradling sings Johnny Heybourn

My name were Johnny Heybourn, in Glasgow I were born.
My home and habitation that I have left and gone,
To leave those hills and bonny dales
To Canadee I go.

’Twas on a Friday morning as we laid in our cells,
Up stepped up our boldly turnkey and these very words did say,
“Arise you noble convicts, I’ll warn you one and all,
This is the day that you sail away to Canadee you go.”

I early rose, put on my clothes, my heart were full of woe.
Heavy irons and chains they laid on me to march me from the town,
No more I’ll wander on Clyde’s dear banks
To Canadee I go.

Good luck unto my mother dear who have reared me many of years
And through my sad misfortune she has shed many’s the bitter tear
And likewise to my father dear, he is the best of all.
Now the sea shall roar between us all in Canadee-i-o.

Gordon Easton sings Jimmy Raeburn

My name is Jimmy Raeburn fae Glesga toun I came,
My place o habitation I had tae leave in shame;
Fae ma place o habitation noo I maun gyang awa,
And leave the bonnie hills an dales o Caledonia.

It wis early in the mornin, afore the dawn o day,
Our keeper he come roon to us and unto us did say;
Arise ye hapless convicts, arise ye een and aa,
This is the day that ye maun stray fae Caledonia.

We mounted the coach and oor herts were full o grief,
Our parents, wives and sweethearts could grant us no relief;
Our parents, wives and sweethairts, their hairts were broke in twa,
Tae see us leave the hills and dales o Caledonia.

Fair weel my aged mother, I’m grieved for what I’ve done
I hope there’s none cast up to you the race that I hae run;
The Lord he will protect you fen I am far awa,
Far frae fae aa the hills and dales o Caledonia.

Fair weel my honest father, you are the best o men,
Likewise my ane true sweetheart, it’s Catherine is her name;
Nae mair we’ll walk by Clyde’s clear streams or by the broomie law,
Nor see again the hills and dales o Caledonia.

If we nivver met on earth again, we’ll meet in heaven above,
Where hallelujahs will be sung tae him whar reigns in love;
Nae earthly judge shall judge us then but he who ruleth all,
Far, far frae all the hills and dells o Caledonia.
Far frae the bonny hills and dells o Caledonia.

Gillian Frame and Findlay Napier sing Jamie Raeburn

My name is Jamie Raeburn, frae Glasgow toon I came,
My place and habitation I’m forced to leave wi shame.
Frae my place and habitation I noo maun gang awa’
Far frae the bonnie hills an dales of Caledonia.

It was early in the morning just at the break o day
The turnkey cam to wake us, and unto us did say,
“Arise, ye hapless convicts, arise ye ane and a’,
This is the day you are to stray from Caledonia.”

We all arose, put on our clothes, our hairts were fu o grief,
Our friends, who stood around the coach, could grant us no relief.
Our parents, wives, and sweethairts, their hairts were broke in twa
Tae see us leave the bonnie braes of Caledonia.

Fareweel my aged mither, don’t grieve for what I’ve done,
Let nane o’ them cast up to you the race that I hae run.
May providence protect you, when I am far awa,
Far, far, frae all the hills and dales of Caledonia.

Fareweel my honest faither, for ye’re the best o’ men,
Likewise my ain dear sweetheart, it’s Catherine is her name.
Nae mair we’ll walk by Clyde’s clear stream or by the Broomielaw
For I maun leave the hills and dales of Caledonia.