LYRIC AND TUNE
One wonders if Kate was Lappin's wife as she receives no verse of her own. It is
perhaps no coincidence that the Dow and MacDonald versions of the melody contain
enough music for two verses. Significantly, the second verse of those versions
demonstrates an upward shift of an octave reflected in the second verse of
Hampsey's harp set.
The lyric, noted by Bunting to have been 'translated' by Hampsey from Irish, would be
difficult to sing to either Hampsey or Quinn's harp versions as their verses are heavily
stylised for harp performance. The Dow and MacDonald versions are more suitable
for lyrics. The first verse of Quinn's set, noted in MS33 book I, is the most similar in
form to fiddle versions and it compares particularly well to the first verse in Dow.
However, the last line of melody in the MacDonald verse particularly suits the words
'serenading David in the sky' from Hampsey's lyric.
Because the spelling of the Irish title varies in different places in Bunting's MSS, it is
difficult to be sure which and how many vocables the spellings are intended to
represent. My realisation of the title is mainly based on the spelling used in the lyric
itself, 'is iombo agus uombo'. This form of the title can be interpreted to allow for one
vocable per note of the chorus plus a possible upbeat syllable 'is', although the
upbeat word 'is' (and) is very frequently is elided to 's' in Gaelic singing and would not
recessarily require an additional upbeat note.
Burns' March
Lyric and tune