Redpath was born in Edinburgh, to musical parents. Her mother knew many Scots songs and passed them on to all four of her daughters; her father played the hammer dulcimer. She was raised in Fife, Scotland, and later returned to Edinburgh, taking medieval studies at the university. Hamish Henderson was working in the School of Scottish Studies and Redpath took a keen interest in the archive of tapes and discs of music and songs. To help pay her way through her studies, she worked as a driving instructor and undertaker's assistant. She learned about 400 songs, together with the oral folklore that went with them.
In March 1961, at the age of 24, she went to the United States. Her first performance was in San Francisco. Later she met up with Rambling Jack Elliott and Bob Dylan in Greenwich Village. The natural warmth and power of her voice brought her to perform at Gerde's Folk City. In 1963, following a concert performance, she signed up with Elektra Records. In 1975 she switched to the Philo label. From 1972 to 1976 Jean was artist-in-residence at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She lectured in folklore and gave talks in schools.
In 1976 Redpath was embarked on a project to record all the songs of Robert Burns. Some being folk songs, some Burns' own compositions, and most a mixture of the two. Twenty-two volumes were planned, but when her collaborator, the composer Serge Hovey died after seven volumes, it came to a premature end. Hovey did the instrumental arrangements for 323 songs, and Redpath felt that no other musician could replace him. The albums won critical praise from around the world. In 1986 she recorded "Lady Nairne," a collection of songs written by Scottish women. She has sensitively reconstructed many songs that might otherwise have been lost.
Between 1974 and 1987, Redpath appeared regularly on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" radio show from NPR. She has also appeared on Robert J. Lurtsema's "Morning Pro Musica" from WGBH in Boston.
She has toured throughout the U.S. and to Canada, and played venues in South America, Hong Kong, and Australia, including the Sydney Opera House, and has performed often at the Edinburgh Folk Festival. In 1977, Redpath appeared at a royal banquet at Edinburgh Castle for Queen Elizabeth II, during Royal Jubilee Year. In spite of all her musical success, she has never had formal musical training.
From 1979 Redpath was a lecturer at the University of Stirling, Scotland, occasionally making a sojourn to Wesleyan University. For ten years she gave courses in Scottish Song at the "Heritage of Scotland" Summer School at Stirling University.
She was awarded the MBE, as well as being named a "Kentucky Colonel" by the Governor of Kentucky. A portrait of Redpath by Alexander Fraser hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.
In 1996 she launched the Burns International Festival.
In 2009, Redpath made an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, singing "Some Kind of Love" by the late John Stewart of the Kingston Trio.
Cauld Kail in Aberdeen
Jean Redpath Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And castocks in Strabogie
But yet I fear they'll cook o'er soon,
And never warm the coggie.
My coggie, Sirs, my coggie, Sirs,
I cannot want my coggie;
I wadna gie my three-gir'd cap
There's Johnie Smith has got a wife
That scrimps him o' his coggie,
If she were mine, upon my life
I wad douk her in a bogie.
My coggie, Sirs, my coggie, Sirs,
I cannot want my coggie;
I wadna gie my three-girr'd cap
For e'er a quine on Bogie.
There's cauld kail in Aberdeen,
And castocks in Strabogie;
When ilka lad maun hae his lass,
Then fye, gie me my coggie.
The lasses about Bogie gicht
Their limbs, they are sae clean and tight,
That if they were but girded right,
They'll dance the reel of Bogie.
Wow, Aberdeen, what did you mean,
Sae young a maid to woo, Sir?
I'm sure it was nae joke to her,
Whate'er it was to you, Sir.
For lasses now are nae sae blate
But they ken auld folk's out o' date,
And better playfare can they get
Than castocks in Strabogie.
The lyrics to Jean Redpath's song "Cauld Kail in Aberdeen" is a Scottish folk song that tells the story of a man's love for his "coggie" (mug or cup) despite the availability of stewed cabbage in Aberdeen and turnips in Strabogie. The song highlights the importance of a good drink to keep one warm, even though the weather may be too cold to enjoy it. The singer mentions that he would not trade his beloved three-gir'd (three-cornered) cap for any lass in Bogie, emphasizing his love for his coggie.
There is also a hint of marriage problems in the song, as the singer mentions Johnie Smith's wife who does not allow him to have his coggie. He also states his wish to "douk" (dunk) her in a bogie (a bog or marsh) if she were his. The final verses shift focus to the lasses around Bogie who are said to dance the reel of Bogie if they are girded right. The singer laments the passing generation of old folk who are not as adventurous as the younger ones who would rather have fun with the lasses than eat castocks in Strabogie.
Overall, the song is a lively and humorous account of a man's love for his coggie while satirizing the rough and ready lifestyle of Scottish locals.
Line by Line Meaning
Cauld kail in Aberdeen
In Aberdeen, there is only cold cabbage soup to eat.
And castocks in Strabogie
In the nearby town of Strabogie, only cabbage stems are available.
But yet I fear they'll cook o'er soon,
I'm worried that the food will cook too quickly and won't heat up my cup.
And never warm the coggie.
To warm my drinking cup.
My coggie, Sirs, my coggie, Sirs,
My drinking cup, gentlemen, my drinking cup, gentlemen,
I cannot want my coggie;
I cannot be without my drinking cup;
I wadna gie my three-gir'd cap
I wouldn't give up my hat with the three corners,
For e'er a quine on Bogie.
For any girl in Bogie.
There's Johnie Smith has got a wife
There's a man named Johnie Smith who has a wife
That scrimps him o' his coggie,
She deprives him of his drinking cup,
If she were mine, upon my life
If she were mine, I swear
I wad douk her in a bogie.
I would dunk her in a nearby small river.
When ilka lad maun hae his lass,
When every young man must have his sweetheart,
Then fye, gie me my coggie.
Then hurry up and give me my drinking cup.
The lasses about Bogie gicht
The girls in Bogie have bright eyes and are attractive.
Their limbs, they are sae clean and tight,
Their bodies are clean and fit.
That if they were but girded right,
That if they were properly dressed,
They'll dance the reel of Bogie.
They will dance to the traditional music of Bogie town.
Wow, Aberdeen, what did you mean,
Wow, Aberdeen, what were you thinking,
Sae young a maid to woo, Sir?
To court such a young woman, sir?
I'm sure it was nae joke to her,
I'm sure it wasn't a joke to her,
Whate'er it was to you, Sir.
Whatever it meant for you, sir.
For lasses now are nae sae blate
Young women are not as shy now
But they ken auld folk's out o' date,
They know that old folks are out of touch,
And better playfare can they get
And they can find better entertainment,
Than castocks in Strabogie.
Than eating cabbage stems in Strabogie.
Contributed by Julian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.