- Hairst O' Rhettie (The) 

The Hairst o' Rhettie is another bothy ballad which tells of the "hairst" or harvesters working on the farm of Rettie in Banffshire. This famous song (learned from a John Strachan recording) tells of the changeover from the scythe to the back delivery reaper, which took place in the mid 1800s. The song follows the exploits of Willie Rae, the foreman at Rhettie whose skill with horse and machine could cut the harvest time from six to seven weeks to a mere "monthy and a day." For workers hired seasonally for a flat fee, this was incentive to seek Willie out at the local hiring fair. Eight More Miles to Louisville (used here as a fiddle tune) was composed by Louis "Grandpa" Jones, bluegrass legend and star of the Grand Ol' Opry. Track 8 of Buchan Bluegrass (2005) I hiv seen the hairst o Rettie lads An twa three on the throng I've heard for sax or seiven weeks The hairsters girn an groan; A covie Willie Rae Wi a monthie an a day, Sends aa the jolly hairsters Singin blythly doun the brae. Oh a monthie and a day, ma lads, The like wis niver seen, It's beats for sticks the fastest strips O Vicker's new machine; A Speedwell she brings up the rear, An the Victory clears the way, An twenty acre daily yields Laid doon tae Willie Rae. For he'll drive them roun an roun the parks At such an awful rate, An steer them canny oot an in At monys a kittle gate; He'll wile them saftly ower a stane An mony's a hidden hole, And he'll come by nae mishanter Gin you leave him wi the pole. Oh he'll whittle aff the corners, Maks crookit bitties stracht, And likes tae see that man and beast Are equal in the draucht; An aa the shavies neat and square An nae a sheaf agley, He will count wi ony dominie Fae the Deveron tae the Spey. Oh he'll sharp their teeth tae gar them bite, An tap them on the jaws, An when he fins them dowly like, He'll brawly ken the cause; A boltie here, a pinnie there, An keep them aye in tune, He will shortly stop their wild career An brings the slackest doon. Oh he's nae made up wi mony words Nor kent tae puff an lee, He's just as keen a little chap As ony you did see; If ye're in search o hairvest wark Upon a market day, Oh tak my advice, be there in time An look for Willie Rae. Come aa ye sturdy Rettie blades, A ringin cheer hurrah! A band o better workin lads A gaffer never saw; They're aye sae willin for tae pairt An eager for the fray, It was them that made the boatie row, 'Twas steered by Willie Rae. Traditional, arranged by Bruce Coughlan and Nolan Murray