Annotation:Sair Feyl'd Hinny

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X:1 % T:Sair Feyl'd, Hinny L:1/8 M:3/4 S:Bruce & Stokoe – Northumbrian Minstelsy Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Cmin E2 ED CC|B2 BA Ge|E2 DE CC|ef dB c2:| Gd ef dB|Gd ef d2|Gd ef dB|ce d=B c2||

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SAIR FYEL'D HINNY (Sin I Ken'd Thou). AKA and see “Young and lusty was I.” English, Air (3/4 time). England, Northumberland/County Durham. C Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. The song "Sair Fyel'd Hinn" [Roud 3062] describes the felling of a tree as a lament to getting old. The refrain, 'sair fyeld, sin aa kenned thou.', translates as 'sorely felled since I knew you'. Hinny is a Geordie term of affection, akin to 'mate' or 'buddy'. The song title appears in Henry Robson's list of popular Northumbrian song and dance tunes ("The Northern Minstrel's Budget"), which he published c. 1800.

Sair fyel'd, hinny, Sair fyel'd now;
Sair fyel'd, hinny, Sin' I ken'd thou.
Aw was young and lusty,
Aw was fair and clear;
Aw was young and lusty,
Mony a lang year. .... (Bruce & Stokoe)

A Jesmond singing teacher, Ernest J Potts, recorded "Sair Fyel'd Hinny" in 1927. See also note for “annotation:I was young and lusty when I kent ye.”