Well fit like the day its Dr Doric again we a blether aboot oor past. As a heritage film maker, I have seen and filmed an affa lot o interesting things aboot oor Scottish past. Een o the maist interestin features I hiv filmed is the work o the Clydesdale horse as deen here in Aiberdeenshire. Durin the Clydesdale horse era in fairmin (which laisted for almost twa hunner year n endid fin the early tractors took ower the work on fairms fae the 1930s) the y o life n work in the rural communities was affa interestin.
This poem that I wrote some years ago tries t capture things o that time n celebrates the role o the horseman who was one o the maist skilled and respected men in agriculture.
Horseman’s memories
I wis roamin thro the countryside on the road doon bye
I travelled past the auld peet moss . Far I eest t ha my fly
I wunnert doon by hillies toon a place i kint reel weel
These are a horseman’s memories when I wis a young fairm chiel.
Chorus
I can mine the twa black Clydesdales
That proudly I eest t yolk
The auld beasts name wis Princy and his marras name wis jock
I see the raas o biggit rucks and mine han milkin on the steel
These are a horseman’s memories fan I wis a young fairm chiel
2.
As my mind begins t reminisce about the distant past
I fondly mine the good auld days theyr disappearing fast
The hairst and the hey time oor girnals foo o meal
These are a horseman’s memories when I wis a young fairm chiel
Chorus
3
The bye gone feeing markets. Jist before the term
When we packit up oor bothy kists and flitted t anither fairm
I mine the wiks o the stame mill.in duncin t the fiddlers reel
These are a horseman’s memories fin I wis a young fairm chiel
Chorus.
4.
Now the past is gone for iver. Its away its beeried and deed
These bye gone horseman’s memories tak mi back t fin I wis feed
Hillies toon his fairly changed hes noo rearin calves for veal
These are a horseman’s memories fin I wis a young fairm chiel
I can mine the twa black Clydesdales
That proudly I eest t yolk
The auld beasts name wis Princy and his marras name wis Jock
I see the raas o biggit rucks and mine han milkin on the steel
These are a horseman’s memories fan I wis a young fairm chiel
Composer Dr Don Carney — Dr Doric
www.scottishheritage.co.uk
