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Birken Tree​/​Devil in the Kitchen​/​The Curlew

from Birken Tree by IONA

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about

Yet another happily ever after love song, in which the cooing couple trysts beneath the birch tree in the glen (the very same one after which we've named this album). Bob augments this joyful concept with a hornpipe and jig (by Donald MacPherson) on the great pipes.

lyrics

O lass, gin ye wud think it right tae gang wi' me this very night,
An' cuddle tae the mornin' light by a' th' lave unseen-o?
An' ye will be my dearie, my ain my dearest dearie,
An ye will be my dearie, gin ye meet me at e'en-o.

I canna for me mammy gae. She locks the door an' keeps the key.
An' in the mornin' charges me, an' aye about the men-o.
She says they're a' deceivers, deceivers, deceivers,
She says they're a' deceivers, ye canna trust in ane-o.

O never mind your mammy's yell, nae doubt she met your dad hersel',
And should she flyte ye can her tell she's oft times done the same-o.
So lassie gi'e your han' on't, your bonnie, milk white han' on't,
O lassie gi'e your han' on't, an' scorn tae lie alane-o.

O lad my han' I canna gie, but aiblins I maun steal the key,
An' meet ye at yon birken tree that grows doon in the glen-o.
So dinna lippin laddie, I canna promise laddie,
O dinna lippin laddie, in case I canna win-o.

O he's gane tae yon birken tree in hopes his ane true love tae see,
When fa' come trippin' o'er the lee, but just his bonnie Jean-o.
An' she's clinkit doon beside him, beside him, beside him,
She's clinkit doon beside him, amangst the grass sae green-o.

"I'm overjoyed wi' rapture noo", quo' he an' preed his cherry mou,
An' Jeannie n'er had cause to rue that night all on the green-o.
For she has got her Johnny, her ane, her dearest Johnny,
For she has got her Johnny, an' Johnny's got his Jean-o.

credits

from Birken Tree, released December 18, 2000
Barbara Ryan: vocals, bouzouki, guitar in open tuning;
Bernard Argent: Doumbek;
Bob Michell: Highland pipes;
Nick Smiley: bouzouki, "avocado"

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all rights reserved

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IONA Washington, D.C.

IONA has been taking its unique brand of traditional Celtic music to festivals, arts centers, schools & house concerts all over North America and Europe since 1986, blending music from the various Celtic traditions with stories and a little humor - Barbara Ryan (vocals, bouzouki, bodhran), Bernard Argent (flute, doumbek), Chuck Lawhorn (bass), Jim Queen (fiddle, banjo) & Kathleen Larrick (dance). ... more

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