Coulters Candy
Encyclopedia
Coulter's Candy, also known as Ally Bally or Ally Bally Bee, is a Scottish
folk song, originating from Galashiels
in the Scottish Borders
.
It was written by Robert Coltard (died 1890) as an advertising jingle for an aniseed-flavoured sweet, manufactured in Melrose
. The recipe is no longer known, but the song lived on. In 1958 a letter to The Weekly Scotsman reported that a man remembered hearing it from his grandmother, who in turn had learned the song in around 1845. It was collected in a children's playground in 1964 by James T. Ritche, who published it in a book called The Singing Street.
However, Norman Buchan
published it earlier in "101 Scottish Songs", Collins, 1962. He states there:
"This song probably produced more correspondence than any other when I printed it in 'The Weekly Scotsman' a few years ago. Robert Coultart - the 'Coulter' of the song - made and sold his own candy round all the country fairs and markets in the Borders..............etc. I first heard it from Scots actor, playwright and folk singer Roddy McMillan
." He also added one of the verses.
The word bawbee
refers to a halfpenny coin.
Coulters Candy is now being manufactured by Scottish Company Ally Bally Bees Ltd. Based on an old family recipe that was passed down from generation to generation, it found its way to Dundee where it resided in a hand written cookbook from the early 1950's until it was rediscovered in 2009. It is made in the original boiled form as well as a more modern 'Fudge' & 'Toffee'.
The Coulters Candy is made by hand in gas fired copper pans and presented in stripped brown paper bags to maintain it's heritage.
Ally bally, ally bally bee,
Sittin' on yer mammy's knee,
Greetin' for a wee bawbee, (crying) (a halfpenny)
Tae buy mair Coulter's candy. (to) (more)
My yir legs are affa thin, (awfully)
A couple o' banes covered ower wi' skin, (bones) (over)
Noo yir gettin' a wee double chin, (now)
Wi' sookin' Coulter's Candy. (sucking)
Ally bally, ally bally bee,
When you grow up you'll go to sea,
Makin' pennies for your daddy and me,
Tae buy mair Coulter's Candy.
Mammy gie's ma thrifty doon, (give) (money box) (down)
Here's auld Coulter comin' roon', (old) (around)
Wi' a basket on his croon, (with) (crown/head)
Selling Coulter's Candy.
Coulter he's a affa funny man, (very)
He mak's his candy in a pan, (makes)
Awa an greet to yer ma, (away) (cry) (your)
Tae buy some Coulters candy. (to)
Little Annie's greetin' tae,
Sae whit can puir wee Mammy dae, (so) (what) (poor) (do)
But gie them a penny atween them twae, (between) (two)
Tae buy mair Coulter's Candy.
and Jimmie MacGregor
sang it on their "Scottish Choice" LP, Decca ACL1065, 1961. All the verses in this version, except one, were written by Robin.
It was recorded by Donovan
on "HMS Donovan" (1971). Canadian singer Catherine McKinnon
also recorded a version of the song on her album "Voice Of An Angel
".
Hamish Imlach
recorded a parody version, where a buyer complains about the poor quality of the candy. The song was also parodied on BBC Radio Scotland
, by comedy group Flying Pig Productions in their show Desperate Fishwives, who related the song to the stereotypically poor Scottish diet.
A version by Scottish Folk singer Watt Nicoll was commissioned by Allyballybees Ltd of Abington, South Lanarkshire
, to promote their "Coulter's Candy" product and other confectionary. The song contained extra "New" and "Lost" verses.
Dawn Steele sang part of the song towards the end of Monarch of the Glen season 2 finale episode.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
folk song, originating from Galashiels
Galashiels
Galashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre for the Scottish Borders...
in the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
.
It was written by Robert Coltard (died 1890) as an advertising jingle for an aniseed-flavoured sweet, manufactured in Melrose
Melrose, Scotland
Melrose is a small town and civil parish in the Scottish Borders, historically in Roxburghshire. It is in the Eildon committee area.-Etymology:...
. The recipe is no longer known, but the song lived on. In 1958 a letter to The Weekly Scotsman reported that a man remembered hearing it from his grandmother, who in turn had learned the song in around 1845. It was collected in a children's playground in 1964 by James T. Ritche, who published it in a book called The Singing Street.
However, Norman Buchan
Norman Buchan
Norman Findlay Buchan was a Labour politician, who represented the West Renfrewshire seat from 1964 until 1983 and the Paisley South seat from 1983 to 1990....
published it earlier in "101 Scottish Songs", Collins, 1962. He states there:
"This song probably produced more correspondence than any other when I printed it in 'The Weekly Scotsman' a few years ago. Robert Coultart - the 'Coulter' of the song - made and sold his own candy round all the country fairs and markets in the Borders..............etc. I first heard it from Scots actor, playwright and folk singer Roddy McMillan
Roddy McMillan
Roddy McMillan was a Scottish actor and playwright, possibly most famous for his comedy role as Para Handy for BBC Scotland television. He also played the lead role in Edward Boyd's private eye series, The View from Daniel Pike.The Glasgow-born McMillan's earliest theatre work began in the...
." He also added one of the verses.
The word bawbee
Bawbee
A bawbee was a Scottish halfpenny. The word means, properly, a debased copper coin, valued at six pence Scots , issued from the reign of James V of Scotland to the reign of William II of Scotland. They were hammered until 1677, when they were produced upon screw presses.-Issues:The bawbee was...
refers to a halfpenny coin.
Coulters Candy is now being manufactured by Scottish Company Ally Bally Bees Ltd. Based on an old family recipe that was passed down from generation to generation, it found its way to Dundee where it resided in a hand written cookbook from the early 1950's until it was rediscovered in 2009. It is made in the original boiled form as well as a more modern 'Fudge' & 'Toffee'.
The Coulters Candy is made by hand in gas fired copper pans and presented in stripped brown paper bags to maintain it's heritage.
Lyrics
Ally bally, ally bally bee,
Sittin' on yer mammy's knee,
Greetin' for a wee bawbee, (crying) (a halfpenny)
Tae buy mair Coulter's candy. (to) (more)
My yir legs are affa thin, (awfully)
A couple o' banes covered ower wi' skin, (bones) (over)
Noo yir gettin' a wee double chin, (now)
Wi' sookin' Coulter's Candy. (sucking)
Ally bally, ally bally bee,
When you grow up you'll go to sea,
Makin' pennies for your daddy and me,
Tae buy mair Coulter's Candy.
Mammy gie's ma thrifty doon, (give) (money box) (down)
Here's auld Coulter comin' roon', (old) (around)
Wi' a basket on his croon, (with) (crown/head)
Selling Coulter's Candy.
Coulter he's a affa funny man, (very)
He mak's his candy in a pan, (makes)
Awa an greet to yer ma, (away) (cry) (your)
Tae buy some Coulters candy. (to)
Little Annie's greetin' tae,
Sae whit can puir wee Mammy dae, (so) (what) (poor) (do)
But gie them a penny atween them twae, (between) (two)
Tae buy mair Coulter's Candy.
Covers and parodies
Robin HallRobin Hall
Robin Hall was a Scottish folksinger.He was born in Edinburgh but spent his childhood years in Glasgow. After studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, he briefly became an actor....
and Jimmie MacGregor
Jimmie MacGregor
Jimmie Macgregor is a Scottish folksinger and broadcaster.He was born in Glasgow and studied at Glasgow School of Art, becoming a potter and teacher....
sang it on their "Scottish Choice" LP, Decca ACL1065, 1961. All the verses in this version, except one, were written by Robin.
It was recorded by Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
on "HMS Donovan" (1971). Canadian singer Catherine McKinnon
Catherine McKinnon
Catherine McKinnon is a Canadian actress and folk/pop singer.McKinnon began as a child performer, making her first radio appearance at age eight and her television debut at age 12. She subsequently studied music at Mount St...
also recorded a version of the song on her album "Voice Of An Angel
Voice of an Angel
Voice of an Angel is the title of the debut music recording/album featuring the voice of 12-year-old soprano Charlotte Church, released in 1998.-Track listing:#"Pie Jesu" #"Panis Angelicus" #"In Trutina"...
".
Hamish Imlach
Hamish Imlach
Hamish Imlach was a folksinger. He was born in Calcutta but claimed to have been conceived in Glasgow, Scotland. Although his commercial success was limited he influenced many other artists, including most notably John Martyn and Billy Connolly. In Central and Northern Europe Imlach enjoyed a...
recorded a parody version, where a buyer complains about the poor quality of the candy. The song was also parodied on BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
, by comedy group Flying Pig Productions in their show Desperate Fishwives, who related the song to the stereotypically poor Scottish diet.
A version by Scottish Folk singer Watt Nicoll was commissioned by Allyballybees Ltd of Abington, South Lanarkshire
Abington, South Lanarkshire
Abington is a village in the Scottish council region of South Lanarkshire,close to the M74 motorway, marking the point where it changes name to the A74, following the upgrade of the former A74 road. The West Coast Main Line between Glasgow and London also emerges from the Clyde Valley at this...
, to promote their "Coulter's Candy" product and other confectionary. The song contained extra "New" and "Lost" verses.
Dawn Steele sang part of the song towards the end of Monarch of the Glen season 2 finale episode.