[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I found this tune in Bremner's Scots Reels and wondered about the title. 'Hirpl'd', I understand, means 'hobbled', but "He hobbled till her" makes little more sense to me than the original. Any ideas of what is meant?
Till means 'unto' - or just to. Normally speltt with only one t - til, and sometimes said as 'until'. Middle Scots and English.
Also, the tune below it on Bremner's page is called "Had the Lass till I winn at her." Am I correct in assuming this is some sort of sexual assault?
No, it's a plowman's title - like 'Hit her between the legs' and 'Up wi' it Eli Eli!'. These sexually ambivalent titles are from the shouts used by horse or ox ploughmen or teams. 'Hold the lass until I get on to her' (winn means to reach or make, but in this context, to mount a horse). Of course it has a double meaning, and everyone would be aware of the double meaning at the time. Pretty much all the titles refer to horses or oxen.
More sexually explicit titles come from the Gaelic - especially women's singing - tradition, notably 'Tail Toddle' which is happily taught to kids at school as if it was a sort of nonsense lyric. Even then, there's a double meaning with dancing/fiddle playing.
David
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