Annotation:When the Kye Come Hame

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X:1 T:When the Kye Come Hame M:4/4 L:1/8 R:Air S:Howe – 1000 Jigs and Reels (c. 1867) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D (Bc) | (d>cBc) (BAFE) | (F<A) A>B A2 (Bc) | (d>cBc) (BAFE) | (FB) B2c2 (dB) | (A>Bde) (f2ed) | (e>def) A2 (d>e) | (f>edc) (B<A) (F>E) | F2B2B2 || (DE) | (F2A2) (AGF>E) | F2B2B2 (de) | f>edc (BAF>E) | F2A2A2 ||

WHEN THE KYE COME HAME. AKA - "Kye Comes Hame." Scottish, Air (4/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. Both words and music to this pastoral song of love and courtship are attributed to Scottish Borders poet James Hogg (1770-1835), known as the "Ettick Shepherd". His song (with music) was first printed in Blackwood's Magazine in May, 1823 (revised in 1831). However, it appears the music is not original with Hogg, but rather adapted by him, as it is similar to the air of an older song called "Shame fa' the gear and the blathrie o't" AKA "Blathrie o’it (The)" with an additional chorus.

Come, all ye jolly shepherds,
That whistle through the glen,
I'll tell ye o' a secret that courtiers dinna ken.
What is the greatest bliss that the tongue o' man can name?
'Tis to woo a bonnie lassie, when the kye come hame,
When the kye come hame, when the kye come hame,
Tween the gloamin' and the mirk,
When the kye come hame.

Additional notes

Source for notated version: -

Printed sources : - Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; p. 124. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 4), c. 1880's; No. 58, p. 9.

Recorded sources: -Green Linnet GLCD 1193, Tannahill Weavers – “Epona” (1998).

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