LL-L: "Folklore" LOWLANDS-L, 19.DEC.2000 (04) [E/S]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 19.DEC.2000 (04) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
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From: Sandy Fleming [sandy at scotstext.org]
Subject: "Folklore"

Concerning the Sandman again, or rather figures for encouraging
children to sleep, the really well-known sleep-bringer in Scots
is "Wee Wullie Winkie", who is some sort of child-figure who
runs around the town in his nightgown making sure all children
are in their beds by the proper time. Here's the song that's
sung to remind children that they have to be in bed before Wee
Wullie Winkie catches them misbehaving (from the ScotsteXt
Nursery Rhyme collection again)...

    Wee Wullie Winkie
    =================

    Wee Wullie Winkie rins throu the toon,
    Up the stair an doon the stair in his nicht-goon,
    Tirlin at the windae, cryin at the lock,
    "Is a' the bairns in their bed? It's past aicht a-clock."

    Hey, Wullie Winkie, are ye comin ben?
    The cat's singin grey thrums tae the sleepin hen,
    The dug's speldered on the fluir, an disna gie a cheep,
    But here's a waukrife laddie that winna fa' asleep.

    Onything but sleep, ye rogue, glowerin like the muin,
    Rattlin in an airn joug wi an airn spuin,
    Rumblin, tumblin, roond aboot, crawin like a cock,
    Skirlin like A kenna what, waukenin sleepin folk.

    Hey, Wullie Winkie, the wean's in a creel,
    Wamblin aff a body's knee like a verra eel,
    Ruggin at the cat's lug, raivelin a' her thrums--
    Hey, Wullie Winkie! See, here he comes!

tirlin - rattling, tapping
ben - through to the inner room
grey thrums - sad, quiet purring
dug - dog
speldered - prostrate
disna gie a cheep - doesn't care in the least
waukrife - wakeful
airn - iron
crawin - crowing
skirlin - shrieking, howling
kenna - know not
bairn/wean - child
in a creel - in a state of agitation
wamblin - wriggling
lug - ear
raivelin - opposite of "unravelling"
thrums - threads, ie fur

Sandy
http://scotstext.org
A dinna dout him, for he says that he
On nae accoont wad ever tell a lee.
                          - C.W.Wade,
                    'The Adventures o McNab'

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