The Scotsman

In my previous post about the Celtic Festival, or the next post if you read 'em from the top down, I made mention of "the liftin' o' the kilt". That rang some bells in my head (loud ones to be heard over all the little voices) and I remembered this song, with a comment from the site:

Well a Scotsman clad in kilt left a bar on evening fair
And one could tell by how we walked that he drunk more than his share
He fumbled round until he could no longer keep his feet
Then he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street

About that time two young and lovely girls just happend by
And one says to the other with a twinkle in her eye
See yon sleeping Scotsman so strong and handsome built
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt

They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman quiet as could be
Lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see
And there behold, for them to see, beneath his Scottish skirt
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth

They marveled for a moment, then one said we must be gone
Let's leave a present for our friend, before we move along
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon, tied into a bow
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show

Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled towards a tree
Behind a bush, he lift his kilt and gawks at what he sees
And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes.
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first prize
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first prize

Background: I first heard this song sung by Bryan Bowers...an autoharpist. It's a popular tune for morning radio programs, and it's popularity has spread incredibly over the past thirty years from Dr. Demento to Renaissance festivals. Heck, I used to stand up in the middle of the cafeteria in college and sing it at the top of my lungs. Yes, every Scotsman has heard the song...and is probably sick of it! But I still love the song, and performing it is even more fun. Oh! Don't forget to get a free Real Men Wear Kilts sticker!

You can listen to the song at the site.

Bryan Bowers is probably the world's best autoharp player. He plays six parts of a song with five fingers. Check him out.