The Hash O Bennagoak by Charlie Allan

This is Bothy Ballad by Charlie Allan and photographs from North-East Scotland's old farming days. The 'bothy' was where the young single farmworkers lived and often entertained themselves of an evening by making up & singing bothy ballads such as this (true 'folk' music.) There is often much humour in the ballad (as there is here) but the sense of the harshness and poverty of these young men's situation and working lives is often communicated too. But there is also a great pride in their work and especially if they are horsemen, in their beautiful animals. I hope this video will, in some small way, keep their memories alive and their Bothy Ballad flame burning.

The Hash O Bennagoak


It's sax month come Mairtinmas I fee'd in Turra toon,
They say that I wis the bra'est chiel in a' the country roon,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Wullie come an fee'd me, Robbie nivver spoke,
Tae come and ca the second pair at the Hash o Benagoak,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Wir foreman's like a constable, he nivver fa's asleep,
It's up and doon the lang rig, and nivver slacks a theet,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

The second horseman, at's masel, I ca' a pair o broons,
Raisin ??? in the foreman's heels, I fairly keep ma roons,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

The third comes fae Fogieloan, he's a pinted chiel,
His horse and his harness they're aye a lookin weel,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Sharnie 't is the baillie, he's a sturdy chiel,
It's roon aboot the kittlie neuks he gars the barra reel,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Wi hae an orra man, and he's ??? the ploo,
There's aye plenty orra jobs, and files there's neeps tae pu,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Wullie rises in the mornin, he gies the door a crash,
Hauls from oot aneth his pickie, says I think we'll hae a thrash,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Wi hae an orra man, and he's ??? the ploo,
There's aye plenty orra jobs, and files there's neeps tae pu,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Wullie rises in the mornin, he gies the door a crash,
Hauls from oot aneth his pickie, says I think we'll hae a thrash,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Come a' ye jolly horseman, ye'll ging tae the ploo,
The orra lad tae ca the neeps and Sharnie pullin fu,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Wullie, he's a brither, he's a' wrang amon the feet,
Tae see him walk aboot the close, he nearly gars ye greet,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Syne they hiv a sister, she's ???,
Faith she keeps the kitchie billies unco scant o maet,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

We hae a sonsie kitchie deem, her name is Betty Broon,
I'll sweir tae tak a saiddle girth her middle tae gang roon,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.

Noo the author o this canty lay, if ye wint it tae be known,
Jist spier ye at the herrin boats at the pier o Fogieloan,
Wi a ring dum day, ring dum a day, ring dum diddle dum, a dandy-o.