A Song of Life and Golf

A Song of Life and Golf

Original Text
The Poetical Works of Andrew Lang, ed. Mrs. Lang, 4 vols. (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1923): II, 69-70. British Library 011645.ee.47
5Ye canna win into the hole,
7And aye, where'er ma ba' may roll,
9Chorus -- Somebody stimying me,
10    Somebody stimying me,
11The grass may grow, the ba' may row,
12    Some limmer stimies me!
13I lo'ed a lass, a bonny lass,
14    Her lips an' locks were reid;
15Intil her heart I couldna pass:
16    Anither man lay deid!
17He cam' atween me an' her heart,
18    I turned wi' tearfu' e'e;
20    The limmer stimied me!
27An' a' in vain ma best I preached,
28    That limmer stimied me!
29It's aye the same in life an' gowf;
30    I'm stimied, late an' ear';
32    I'd fain be itherwhere.
34    As sure as deith ye'll see
36    Rin in, an' stimied me!
37Chorus (if thought desirable).

Notes

1] ca': call.
stimy: stymie, a term that describes an opponent's golf ball that rests between one's own ball and the hole on the putting green. Back to Line
2] ilka: every. Back to Line
3] lie deid: to very close to the hole.
unco: uncommon. Back to Line
4] ba': ball. Back to Line
6] gleg: sharpsighted. Back to Line
8] limmer: scoundrel. Back to Line
19] loft: lift. Back to Line
21] kirk: church. Back to Line
22] teind: tithe.
glebe: church land given to a clergyman as part of his benefice. Back to Line
23] stirk: bullock. Back to Line
24] links: a golf course. Back to Line
25] fleeched: entreated. Back to Line
26] Convartit U.P.: converted unitarian protestant? Back to Line
31] howf: haunt, resort. Back to Line
33] corp: corpse. Back to Line
35] moudiewarp: mole. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 2001
Rhyme