Coulter's Candy

"Coulter's Candy", also known as "Ally Bally" or "Ally Bally Bee" or "Sweet Boiled Candy",[1] is a Scots folk song.

It was written by a former Galashiels weaver, Robert Coltart (1832–1880).[1] The song was an advertising jingle for the aniseed-flavoured confectionery that he manufactured in Melrose, and sold around the markets of the Border towns.[2] 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. R. Ritchie, who published it in a book called The Singing Street.[3] However, Norman Buchan published it earlier in 101 Scottish Songs (1962).[4] He stated 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.

Coltart died of a brain tumour,[5] penniless, and was buried in an unmarked ("pauper's") grave[1] in Eastlands Cemetery, in Galashiels.

Popular Preschool band The Wiggles performed this song on their Nursery Rhymes 2 album titled as "Sweet Boiled Candy"

In 2019, the Scottish Borders Council erected a statue in honour of Coulters Candy in Galashiels as part of a town centre regeneration project in advance of the Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre opening in 2021.

Lyrics

Ally bally, ally bally bee,
Sittin' on yer mammy's knee,
Greetin' for a wee bawbee, (crying) (a halfpenny)
Tae buy some Coulter's candy. (to)

Poor wee Jeanie's gettin' awfy thin, (awfully)
A rickle o' banes covered ower wi' skin, (bones) (over)
Noo she's gettin' a wee double chin, (now)
Wi' sookin' Coulter's Candy. (sucking)

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.

When you grow old, a man to be,
you'll work hard and you'll sail the seas,
an' bring hame pennies for your faither and me,
Tae buy mair Coulter's Candy. (more)

Coulter he's a affa funny man, (very)
He maks his candy in a pan, (makes)
Awa an greet to yer ma, (away) (cry) (your)
Tae buy some Coulter's 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.

The following verse is also sung, at least in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire since before the 1920s:

Coulter's Candy, a penny a lump,
'At's i' stuff tae mak ye jump. (that's) (the) (to) (make) (you)
If ye jump you're sure tae fa', (you) (to) (fall)
Coulter's Candy, a penny fur a' (for) (all)

Covers and parodies

Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor with The Galliards sang it on their 1961 Scottish Choice album, Decca, ACL 1065.[6]

It was recorded by Donovan on HMS Donovan (1971).[7] The Canadian singer Catherine McKinnon also recorded a version of the song on her album Voice of an Angel.[8]

Hamish Imlach recorded a parody version, where a buyer complains about the poor quality of the candy.[9] 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 confectionery. The song contained extra "New" and "Lost" verses.

A version of the song was released by The Kerries in 1967 on Major Minor Records 45 MM541, the song was produced by Tommy Scott.[10]

Dawn Steele sang part of the song towards the end of Monarch of the Glen season 2, finale episode.

The Irish Rovers included the song on their album The First of the Irish Rovers (1966).[11][12]

References
  1. "15 famous songs every Scot will know". Scotsman.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  2. "Legend of sweetie salesman unwrapped". Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
  3. James T. R. Ritchie (1964). The Singing Street (First ed.). Oliver & Boyd. ISBN 978-0050011508.
  4. Norman Buchan (1962). 101 Scottish Songs. Collins. ISBN 978-0008136611.
  5. "Coulter's Candy". Sangstories.webs.com. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
  6. "Robin Hall And Jimmie MacGregor With The Galliards – Scottish Choice". Discogs. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  7. "HMS Donovan – Donovan – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  8. "Voice of an Angel – Catherine McKinnon – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  9. "Hamish Imlach – Cod Liver Oil & Orange Juice – The Transatlantic Anthology". Discogs. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  10. "The Kerries – Coulters Candy". 45cat.com. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  11. "The First of the Irish Rovers – The Irish Rovers – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  12. "The Irish Rovers – The First Of The Irish Rovers". Discogs. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
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