SV: Burns Night, "Scotch Drink" and a difficult verse

[Ralph Katzenell]

Hullo ther Andy,
Der iss a saying in mine countrie, an dat saying iss "Walla!"
Or as they say in Rutherglen "'zat ah fakt?!!"

Thank you. All is now clear for the first time in 60+ years. I shall retranslate the verse in the spirit of your explanation.
Again. Ta.

Uncle Ralph

----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew Currie <andrew at ANDREWCURRIE.COM>
Date: Monday, January 22, 2007 2:43 pm
Subject: Re: SV: Burns Night, "Scotch Drink" and a difficult verse

> Sitting as I am fifty metres from the Burns museum in Mauchline, I 
> hopethat I can help.
> The gossips conversation is fuelled by the whisky as a baby is 
> born, and
> the husbands, fumbling dolts, are slighted by their darlings, the 
> women.I disagree with the translation woe befall the name, it 
> should be
> literally well worth the name, ironically saying that as they slight
> their husbands they are still worthy of bearing their name.
> Because of all this chatter and merriment, the midwives, working 
> hard at
> the birth, get no fun at all and even worse are not paid because the
> gossiping women forget to pay them after drinking whisky.
> Andrew
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MALTS-L at RZ.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE [MALTS-L at RZ.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE]
> On Behalf Of Ralph Katzenell
> Sent: 21 January 2007 15:36
> To: MALTS-L at LISTS.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE
> Subject: Re: SV: Burns Night, "Scotch Drink" and a difficult verse
> 
> Thank you Åke
> As a translation, its perfect.
> But even with this translation, the meaning is not clear.
> 
> Are the midwifes fumbling because of drink (and so drink is a bad 
> thing)The midwifes don't get paid, because they were incompetent, 
> and so they
> can't afford the drink (and so lack of drink is a bad thing).
> I just don't get the message.
> 
> Everything else has the message that Scotch Drink is good because 
> . . .
> . .
> 
> Whats the message here?
> 
> Ralph
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Åke Johansson <ake.j-son at BREDBAND.NET>
> Date: Sunday, January 21, 2007 3:50 pm
> Subject: SV: Burns Night, "Scotch Drink" and a difficult verse
> 
> > Hi Ralph,
> > 
> > Would this be of any help:
> > http://www.cobbler.plus.com/wbc/poems/translations/422.htm
> > 
> > Åke
> > 
> > -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
> > Från: MALTS-L at RZ.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE [MALTS-L at RZ.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE] För
> > Ralph Katzenell
> > Skickat: den 21 januari 2007 11:44
> > Till: MALTS-L at LISTS.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE
> > Ämne: Burns Night, "Scotch Drink" and a difficult verse
> > 
> > Greetings all.
> > Burns night is upon us once more.
> > And it is my pleasant duty to give a rendition, translated into 
> > English,understandable to those unfortunate souls born south of 
> > the Watford gap.
> > 
> > My choice this year is "Scotch Drink".
> > 
> > And oh! The shame of it!!
> > I have a problem understanding the context and "thrust" of one 
> verse.> Both preceeding and following verses celebrate how Scotch 
> Drink 
> > overcomesdifficuties in life.
> > 
> > However, this verse just seems to be a complaint against poor 
> quality> midwives, and notes their dismissal without payment for 
> their bad 
> > work.Where's the relationship to Scotch Drink?
> > 
> > . . . 
> > When skirling weanies see the light, 
> > Though maks the gossips clatter bright, 
> > How fumblin' cuiffs their dearies slight; 
> > Wae worth the name! 
> > Nae howdie gets a social night, 
> > Or plack frae them. 
> > . . . 
> > Can someone provide a good, rythmic translation into modern 
> > English of just
> > this verse, plus a short explanation of how it fits into the 
> > context of
> > preceeding and following verses.
> > 
> > 
> > Ralph
> > 
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