THE NIGHT WE SPENT IN COQUET WATTA

by James Tait

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about

This is a poem by the late Billy Bell of Northumberland, set to music by me. Some of my ancestors are very likely mentioned in the poem, which inspired me to set it to music.

lyrics

The Night we spent in Coquet Watter

The skies were grey that winters day
And doon the rain did ceaseless splatter
My friend and me we did agree
To spend a night in Coquet Watter.

Ower hills and howes to Lounges Knows
Abraid the auld yowes we did scatter
And made a pledge on Riddlees edge
We’d hae some fun in Coquet watter.

Then on we went on purpose bent
And soon the miles we ower did batter
Till unco croose, the auld school hoose
We spied close to the Coquet watter.

When we gat there snug in the chair
Our worthy Nimrod, growing fatter
Presided o’er, as oft of yore
That gala night in Coquet watter

Our auld friend Jim was in fine trim
O’ lang nebbed words he has a smatter
To parliament he should be sent
To represent auld Coquet watter.

Wi’ merry sang the rafters rang
the speeches were not meant tae flatter
That night on earth, dear social mirth
Smiled sweetest on auld Coquet watter.

The concert oer, upon the floor
Stood stalward son and bonnie daughter
With eyes sae bright and hearts sae light
The flower and pride O’Coquet watter.

The fiddle squeeled, around we wheeled
The lassies feet went pitter patter
Nae waists sae sma’ nane drest sae braw
As the fair young queens O’ Coquet watter.

The shepherd men frae hill and glen
Their brass nebbed shoon did clitter clatter
And flung their heels in jigs and reels
That night we spent in Coquet watter.

A’e fine young Queen, wie bonnie e’en
I spied her age an’ what they ca’t her
Says she my man, ne’er try your han’
We’re ower fly in Coquet watter.

We had a feed o’ fancy bread
But O! We wished for something sauter
Our mouths were wairsh oor throats were hairsh
Wie the night we spent in Coquet watter.

Then through the fields to Battleshields
Wie our frin’ Wat we had a chatter
And with a glass we pledged each lass
And a’ the folks in Coquet watter.

Then o’er the hill wie right good will
We gaily sang “Wha’ is your hatter”
Baith weel content, a night we’d spent
Wie canty folks o’ Coquet watter

credits

released July 18, 2020
Words by Billy Bell, music by James Tait.

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all rights reserved

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James Tait Morpeth, UK

Singer/songwriter/
Northumbrian dialect poet/freelance instrument teacher/wedding pianist/composer. jamestaitmusic.com

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