tae gang tae the coals

English translation: to gang to the coals I (go) this morning

02:07 Mar 13, 2009
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Folklore / Scottish song
English term or phrase: tae gang tae the coals
The same song about the battle of Prestonpans:

Hey, Johnnie Cope, are ye walkin' yet?
And are your drums a-beatin' yet?
If ye were walkin', I would wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the mornin'!
allp
Poland
Local time: 15:18
Selected answer:to gang to the coals I (go) this morning
Explanation:
The full English Translation..
http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/430.htm

And version II

http://www.mysongbook.de/msb/songs/j/johnnyco.html

The familiar air to which Johnnie Cope is sung is much older than Skirving's song, and was associated with a set of verses, some of which Burns remembered, the refrain being -

Will ye go to the coals in the morning?

Some editors have held that the word 'coals' in Skirving's effusion should be 'hills'. But it is worth noting that the battle ground of Tranent lies in the midst of a coalfield, from which Edinburgh had for centuries been supplied with most of the fuel which it required; and that being so, the expression

To gang to the coals i' the morning

embraces a withering sarcasm which, by the use of the word 'hills', or any other, could certainly not have been achieved.
Selected response from:

Gary D
Local time: 00:18
Grading comment
Thank you, Gary!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5to gang to the coals I (go) this morning
Gary D


  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
to gang to the coals I (go) this morning


Explanation:
The full English Translation..
http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/430.htm

And version II

http://www.mysongbook.de/msb/songs/j/johnnyco.html

The familiar air to which Johnnie Cope is sung is much older than Skirving's song, and was associated with a set of verses, some of which Burns remembered, the refrain being -

Will ye go to the coals in the morning?

Some editors have held that the word 'coals' in Skirving's effusion should be 'hills'. But it is worth noting that the battle ground of Tranent lies in the midst of a coalfield, from which Edinburgh had for centuries been supplied with most of the fuel which it required; and that being so, the expression

To gang to the coals i' the morning

embraces a withering sarcasm which, by the use of the word 'hills', or any other, could certainly not have been achieved.

Gary D
Local time: 00:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you, Gary!
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