The traveling song, Tramps & Hawkers, was composed in the late 1800’s by the Angus hawker , Jimmy Henderson, also known as Brechin Jimmy. It celebrates those that tramp the countryside, hawking their wares, gathering the local blaw (gossip) and passing it on. They were the source of the news throughout the known world and teller of tales of distant lands.
I have spent some portion of my life in recent years traveling and gathering blaw along with photographs. So here I present my own Tramps & Hawkers view of the Scottish countryside. And, in the tradition of many of those tramps and hawkers of old, I have composed my own verses to celebrate my journeys.
(Tramps & Hawkers performed by my friend, Alex Beaton, live at the 2010 Stone Mountain Games and used with his permission.)
I’ve seen Loch Ness’ silvery tide An' places ill tae ken Far up tae the snowy north Lies Urquhart's Faerie glen
Ben Nevis
Bonnie Doon (Doune) Castle
Ill tae ken Clava Cairns
The River Don
Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle, by the way, I nearly had forgot An’ aye the rickles o' cairn mairks The hoose o' John O' Groats.
The Coast of John O’ Groats
Heather in the Cairngorms
Flora MacDonald’s Grave on Skye
I’ve trod the banks o’ the bonnie Tweed At the gloamin’ o’ the day On th’ Isle of Skye I’ve bent my knee Where Flora MacDonald lay.
The River Tweed
I ha’ dined on Anster’s fish and beer, I’ve strode St. Andrew’s strand In heath’r on the Cairngorms, Breathed Heav’n on the land
Now I must gang ta Sammy’s Lan’, my time ta leave is nigh But I’ll return ta ye someday and ta the Isle of Skye To tramp again the Cuillin Hills in the mist o’ th’ mornin’ dew An’ sing o’ amber waves o’ grain when I come back tae you. Traditional last verse: I think I'll gang tae Paddy's Lan', I'm mukin' up my mind For Scotland's greatly altered noo, I canna raise the wind But I will trust in Providence, if Providence prove true And I will sing of Erin's Isle when I come back to you.
Dear Fellow Beatonites, As many of you know, in July, Alex suffered a debilitating accident at his home in Franklin. After seven and a half months in four hospitals, he is finally back home in Franklin, TN. I know that we all hope and pray for his full recovery. And we pray for strength for Linda. For the latest update on Alex’s condition, please go to his home page. Click here.