Ca' Hawkie through the watter
Ca' Hawkie through the watter is a famous traditional Geordie folk song the origin of which is unknown. It was made popular in the 19th century when many music hall artist would sing it.
In the Middle Ages (and before), many families measured their wealth by the number of cows, goats, sheep, etc. which they owned, and in some parts of the world they still do. In this song we have Hawkie (pronounced ‘Hackie’) the Geordie dialect term for a white faced milk-coo or cow, which is on the opposite side of a stream, and is too ‘sweir’ (shy) to cross the ‘watter’ (water), to come and be milked.
Verse 2 tries to show the parallel between the stubborn cow and a single woman of marriageable age resisting her suitors.
== Lyrics == The song was published in “William Vickers' manuscript tune book” an 18th century tune book compiled by William Vickers containing a collection of Tyneside (and Scottish) songs. The book was possibly published c1770.
The title and the tune, without words, can also be found in Robert Topliff's “A Selection of the most popular Melodies of the Tyne and the Wear”, published c1815.
It also appears in the “Collection of local songs and poetical pieces many of them from the original manuscripts, relative to Newcastle upon Tyne and its neighbourhood which have come into the possession of John Bell, land surveyor, Gateshead”. C 1810
CA’ HAWKIE THROUGH THE WATTER
Ca Hawkie, drive Hawkie,
Ca Hawkie throu' the watter.
Hawkie is a good milk coo,
Bit Hawkie winna wade the watter.
I'll cast aff ma hose an' sheen,
An' I'll drive Hawkie throu' the watter.
Chorus
Ca' Hawkie, ca' Hawkie,
Ca' Hawkie through the watter,
Hawkie is a sweir beast,
And Hawkie winna wade the watter.
Verses:
Hawkie is a bonny coo,
Though she's loth to wade the watter;
While she waits the wark'll stand,
So ca' Hawkie through the watter.
Hawkie is a pretty coo;
All the children do adore her,
For she gives them all the milk
There is none they prize before her.
Girls, be not too nice and coy,
If your sweetheart wants to marry,
Ne'er say nay, but quickly comply,
As 'tis hazardous to tarry.
Now, young maids, my counsel take,
Since that it can be no better;
Cast off baith your hose and shoon,
And safely drive her through the watter.
== Comments on variations to the above version ==
NOTE –
The many versions published show several minor variations, mainly in the spelling of the words. Some of the most common are listed below :-
Generally
Bonny spelt bonnie
Coo spelt coe or cow
Sweir spelt sweer
Watter spelt water or wattor
Work spelt wark
And specifically
Verse 2 line 1 “pretty” becomes “bonny”
Verse 3 line 1 "nice and coy" becomes "nice or coy"
Last verse line 4 some versions leave out the word "safely"
Recordings
Owen Brannigan (1908-1973 was one of England's most popular bass singers in his day.
Ca’ Hawkie, sung by Thomas Allen & Shiela Armstrong from the CD “Songs of Northumbria on Mawson & Wareham, MWMCD SP 9 - Listen to a sample on http://www.mawson-wareham.com/player.php?play=mwmcdsp8603&tkid=48&aid=1&pid=34