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

[Ralph Katzenell]

Many many thanks, Andrew

Heres what the bloody English will get, and like, whether they like it or not!:

When shreiking babies first see the light, 
Thou makes the wifies gossip bright, 
an' with sarcastic comments, quesy husbands slight; 

Such pride in the family name! 

Forgot - the poor midwifes, midst drunken clatter, 
Forgot - their pennies, so grand the patter.

Well, it'll do. Good enough for Government purposes. Hey You! Pass us the Uigedail, Jimmy! Aye! Right now! Gie'zit!

Uncle Ralph (who is going to wear a kilt to the Burns Supper!!!!!!!!! Royal bloody Stuart, fer cryin' out loud!)
 


----- 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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