Scottish Poetry Selection
- Babbity Bowster
Babbity Bowster was an old Scottish country dance which was often used to finish off a ball; it also became a children's game with different rules in various parts of the country. "Babbity" means "bob" and "bowster" was the wheelshaft in a watermill.
The illustration is the Babbity Bowster restaurant in Glasgow's Merchant City.
Babbity Bowster
Wha learned you to dance,
Babbity Bowster, Babbity Bowster?
Wha learned you to dance,
Babbity Bowster, brawly?My minny learned me to dance,
Babbity Bowster, Babbity Bowster,
My minny learned me to dance,
Babbity Bowster, brawly.Wha gae you the keys to keep,
Babbity Bowster, Babbity Bowster?
Wha gae you the keys to keep,
Babbity Bowster, brawly?My minny gae me the keys to keep,
Babbity Bowster, Babbity Bowster,
My minny gae me the keys to keep,
Babbity Bowster, brawly.Meaning of unusual words:
learned you=taught you
brawly=elegant
minnie=an affectionate name for mother
gae=gave
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
