Saturday, June 4, 2011

Pittsburgh Steel, part dà dhà

The realm of the Picts was divided into several provinces, or sub-kingdoms, one of which was known as "Fib". By A.D. 1160 or thereabouts, it was being spelled "Fif". Today it is known as Fife, and a more beautiful ex-Pict sub-kindom you would be hard-pressed to find.

Fife is no longer a Scottish county, but is rather something called a "lieutenancy area". I won't make an attempt at that; Scottish lieutenancies and local government regions are well beyond the scope of your average American's need to know, and, let's face it, desire to know. Suffice to say that this gorgeous bit of green Scottish heaven is tucked away by the sea, between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth. Try to say THAT fast three times when you are drunk, laddie! I have heard rumors, however, that Fife is up for a captaincy soon, or even a majorcy in the near future.

The picturesque city of St. Andrews is perched there near the sea. In addition to the magnificent ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, pictured above, it is rumored that some other folk have taken up the game of golf in nearby environs. Since I have already done the People-of-St.-Andrews-love-Bobby-Jones golf post elsewhere in this blog, I won't get sidetracked about golf here. However, there is MUCH rich history and interesting stories to be found in Fife, and I may revisit it for that purpose sometime in the future.

In November of 1835, a boy was born in Dunfermline (one of the three districts of Fife) to a weaver and his wife. It is the story of this little boy that this little series of posts is really about. He was to become America's second-wealthiest man behind only John D. Rockerfeller.




2 comments:

  1. Actually it is 'The Kingdom of Fife."

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tis too, the Kingdom of Fife.

    Their coopers are famous. Nickety nackety noo noo noo!

    There was a wee Cooper wha lived in Fife
    Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
    And he had gotten a gentle wife,
    Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
    Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

    She wadna bake, nor she wadna brew,
    Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
    For the spoiling o' her comely hue,
    Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
    Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

    She wadna card, nor she wadna spin,
    Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
    For the shamin' o' her gentle kin,
    Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
    Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

    She wadna wash, nor she wadna wring,
    Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
    For the spoiling o' her gowden ring,
    Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
    Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

    The Cooper has gane to his woo' pack,
    Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
    And he's laid a sheep's skin on his wife's back,
    Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
    Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

    "It's I'll no thrash ye for your gentle kin",
    Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
    "But I will skelp my ain sheep's skin",
    Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
    Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

    "Oh I will bake and I will brew",
    Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
    "And nae mair think o' my comely hue",
    Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
    Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

    "Oh I will card, and I will spin",
    Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
    "And nae mair think o' my gentle kin",
    Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
    Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

    "Oh I will wash, and I will wring",
    Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
    "And nae mair think o' my gowden ring",
    Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
    Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

    A' ye wha ha'e gotten a gentle wife,
    Nickety, Nackety, noo, noo, noo,
    Send ye for the wee Cooper o' Fife,
    Hey Willy Wallacky, hey John Dougal,
    Alane, quo' Rushety, roo, roo, roo.

    (a cooper is a man who makes barrels).
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcH0qtyvbQE&feature=related

    ReplyDelete

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