Andy M. Stewart of Silly Wizard passed away on December 27, 2015, after a long period of illness. His sister Angie posted this message on the YouCaring fundraiser page: "It is with deep and profound sadness that I must say that my darling brother, Andy M Stewart has passed away. He died peacefully in hospital on 27th December after a long and brave fight.
The family thank everyone who has supported this fundraiser and for your outpouring of love and care. Your support has meant the world to us.
Andy was was in his own words, 'astonished' and I know, deeply touched by the many expressions of love penned to this page.
We we thank you all.
Yours with gratitude, love thanks
Angie Stewart Hollin "
Rest in peace, Andy, and thank you for your music.
www.youcaring.com/medical-fund...
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Lyrics * as sung here* are at the end of this description. This was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia on April 1, 1988.
Donald McGillavry was a fictional character created by James Hogg. In a footnote to The London Literary Gazette's review dated November 11, 1820 of "The Jacobite Relics of Scotland" by James Hogg, where the song was first published, the Gazette stated: "Donald Macgillavry is here put for the Highland Clans generally." Gareth Davis wrote a comprehensive history of this song for Radio De Danann which can be found here: radiodedanann.blogspot.com/201...
Silly Wizard members in this clip:
Andy M. Stewart: lead vocals, tenor banjo, whistle
Phil Cunningham: accordion, piano, synthesizers, whistle, cittern, vocals
John Cunningham: fiddle, vocals
Gordon Jones: guitar, bodhran, vocals
Martin Hadden: bass guitar, keyboards, guitar, vocals
Donald come up the hill hard and hungry,
Donalds come doon the hill wild and angry;
Donald will clear the gouk's nest cleverly, [gouk = cuckoo]
Here's to King James and to Donald McGillavry.
Come like a weigh-bauk, Donald McGillavry, [weigh-bauk = scales]
Come like a weigh-bauk, Donald McGillavry,
Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly:
Off wi' the counterfeit, Donald McGillavry.
Donald come o'er the hill but his tether, man,
As he were wud, or stang'd wi' an ether, man; [wud = mad][ stung by an adder]
When he comes back, there's some will look merrily:
Here's to King James and to Donald McGillavry.
Come like a weaver, Donald McGillavry,
Come like a weaver, Donald McGillavry,
Push about, and in and out, thimble them cleverly
Up wi King James and with Donald McGillavry
Donald has foughten wi' rief and roguery; [rief = banditry]
Donald has dinner'd wi banes and beggary, [banes = bones]
Better it were for Whigs and Whiggery
Meeting the devil than Donald McGillavry.
Come like a tailor, Donald McGillavry,
Come like a tailor, Donald McGillavry,
Push about, and in and out, thimble them cleverly,
Up wi King James and with Donald McGillavry.
Donald's the callan that brooks nae tangleness; [callan = fine fellow]
Whigging and prigging and a'newfangleness,
They maun be gane: he winna be baukit, man: [baukit = balked]
He will hae justice, or faith he'll tak it, man.
Come like a cobler, Donald McGillavry,
Come like a cobler, Donald McGillavry;
Beat them, and bore them, and lingel them cleverly, [lingel = shoemaker's thread]
Up wi' King James and wi' Donald McGillavry.
Donald was mumpit wi' mirds and mockery; [lulled with flattery]
Donald was blinded wi' blads o' property; [blads = lots]
Arles ran high, but makings were naething, man, [Arles = Thrashing]
Lord, how Donald hes flyting and fretting, man. [flyt = scold]
Come like the devil, Donald McGillavry,
Come like the devil, Donald McGillavry; [skelp = chastise]
Skelp them and scaud them that proved sae unbritherly, [scaud = scold]
Up wi' King James and wi' Donald McGillavry!