Formed i… Read Full Bio ↴Malinky is a Scottish folk band specialising in Scots song.
Formed in autumn 1998, the original members were Karine Polwart from Banknock, Stirlingshire (vocals, guitar, bouzouki), Steve Byrne from Arbroath (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin), Mark Dunlop from Garryduff, Co. Antrim (bodhrán, whistles, vocals) and English fiddler Kit Patterson.
First meeting to rehearse in early October that year, the band was largely formed to help Polwart fulfil a support slot at Edinburgh Folk Club some ten days later, supporting harpist and storyteller Robin Williamson, formerly of the Incredible String Band. The members had previously encountered each other around the lively pub session scene in Edinburgh in venues such as Sandy Bell's and the Royal Oak bars. Polwart was a social worker, Byrne a student of Scottish Studies, Dunlop a town planner with the city council, and Patterson a computer programmer from Plymouth.
The band's first album 'Last Leaves' was recorded in 1999 and released at Celtic Connections 2000, with the late Davy Steele as producer. In early 2001, Edinburgh-born Jon Bews, formerly of Burach, replaced Patterson on fiddle, and later that year Tyrone button box and whistle player Leo McCann was asked to join to expand the band's largely string-driven sound.
In September 2004 the band announced a major change of personnel. Polwart left to pursue a solo career and McCann's imminent fatherhood prompted him to return to his previous career in social work. Polwart and McCann worked their notice until February 2005, coincidentally the same month as Polwart swept the boards at the Radio 2 Folk Awards, catapulting her re-released 2003 solo album 'Faultlines' to greater heights.
Byrne, Dunlop and Bews continued the band with new members Fiona Hunter from Glasgow (vocals, cello) and Liverpool-born Ewan MacPherson (guitar, mandolin, mandola, tenor banjo, jew's harp, vocals), and a series of crossover concerts in January and February 2005 took place, featuring both old and new lineups, including a sellout show at Celtic Connections in Glasgow.
In June 2005 the band recorded their third album 'The Unseen Hours' at Watercolour Studios in Ardgour, Lochaber in the Scottish Highlands, and the album was released in November 2005, surprising many critics with its continuity from the band's previous work, and earning rave reviews with its strong commitment to traditional Scots ballads.
The Unseen Hours lineup toured Germany and the Netherlands in 2006 to great acclaim and in 2007 performed with Swedish ballad band Ranarim at the Celtic Connections festival as well as making their first sojourn to the USA and Canada.
In December 2007 MacPherson left the band to pursue other projects to be replaced by guitar and bouzouki player David Wood from Grindleford in Derbyshire, formerly of CrossCurrent.
Fiddler Mike Vass joined the band in 2008, previously best known for performing in a duo with his sister Ali Vass.
Alison Cross
Malinky Lyrics
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The ugliest witch in the north countrie
She's trysted me ae day 'til her bower
And mony's the braw spreech she made tae me
She showed me a mantle o reid scarlet
Weel wrocht wi gowd and fringes fine
Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true
"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"
She showed me a sark o the saftest silk
Weel wrocht wi pearls abune the band
Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true
This gudely gift's at your command"
"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"
She showed me a cup o the gude reid gowd
Weel wrocht wi jewels sae fair and fine
Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true
This gudely gift, it shall be thine"
"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"
An' she's ta'en oot her grass-green horn
She blew it three times loud and shrill
She swore by the moon and the stars abune
She'd gar me rue the day I ever was born
An' she's ta'en oot her silvery wand
She straiked it three time o'er her knee
She's muttered sic words as my senses failed
I feel doon senseless tae the ground
"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"
It fell upon last Halloween
When the seely coort came riding by
The queen's lichtit doon on a gowany bank
Nae far fae the tree whaur I did lie
An' she's ta'en oot her silvery wand
She straked it three times o'er her knee
She's turned me back tae ma proper shape
Nae mare tae toddle aroond the tree
"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"
"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
Haud far awa and let me be
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"
The lyrics to Malinky's song "Alison Cross" tell the story of a man who visits the tower where Alison Cross, the "ugliest witch in the north countrie," lives. Despite her unattractive appearance, she tries to seduce him with various gifts, including a mantle, a silk shirt, and a cup made of gold and jewels. The man repeatedly rejects her advances, stating that he would rather "toddle aroond the tree" than kiss her "ugly mou."
Alison Cross then uses her magic to put a spell on the man, causing him to fall senseless to the ground. It is not until the Seely court (a group of fairies or supernatural beings) rides by on Halloween night that the man is turned back to his normal shape and released from the spell. Throughout the song, the man's rejection of Alison Cross's advances highlights the importance of consent and the idea that physical appearance should not be the sole determinant of attraction.
Overall, "Alison Cross" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring consent and using magic to try to manipulate others.
Line by Line Meaning
Alison Cross lives in yon tower
Alison Cross resides in that tall tower over there.
The ugliest witch in the north countrie
She is known as the most hideous sorceress in the north country.
She's trysted me ae day 'til her bower
One day she invited me to her private chamber.
And mony's the braw spreech she made tae me
She has often made flattering and charming speeches to me.
She showed me a mantle o reid scarlet
She presented me with a red cloak, intricately decorated with gold and fine fringes.
Weel wrocht wi gowd and fringes fine
It was crafted with care and skill, adorned with gold and delicate fringes.
Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true
She proposed, "If you become my loyal lover
This gudely gift, it shall be thine"
this lovely gift shall be yours."
"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
"Go away, hideous witch
Haud far awa and let me be
keep your distance and leave me be.
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I would rather dance around the tree
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"
than give you an affectionate peck on the cheek."
She showed me a sark o the saftest silk
She displayed a soft silk shirt,
Weel wrocht wi pearls abune the band
ornamented with pearls above the hem.
Says, "Gin ye'll be my leman sae true
She said, "If you become my loyal lover
This gudely gift's at your command"
this beautiful gift can be yours."
"An' she's ta'en oot her grass-green horn
"And she pulled out her grass-green horn
She blew it three times loud and shrill
and blew it three times, loud and sharp.
She swore by the moon and the stars abune
She swore by the moon and stars above
She'd gar me rue the day I ever was born
that I would regret the day I was born.
An' she's ta'en oot her silvery wand
Next, she took out her silver wand
She straiked it three time o'er her knee
and ran it over her knee three times,
She's muttered sic words as my senses failed
while muttering some words that left me dizzy and disoriented.
I feel doon senseless tae the ground"
I fell down unconscious onto the ground."
"It fell upon last Halloween
"On the last Halloween
When the seely coort came riding by
when the fairy court came riding past,
The queen's lichtit doon on a gowany bank
the queen landed down on a flower-covered bank,
Nae far fae the tree whaur I did lie"
not too far from where I lay beneath the tree."
An' she's ta'en oot her silvery wand
She pulled out her silver wand once again
She straked it three times o'er her knee
and ran it over her knee three more times,
She's turned me back tae ma proper shape
causing me to revert to my natural form,
Nae mare tae toddle aroond the tree"
and no longer having to dance around the tree."
"Awa, awa ye ugly witch
"Go away, hideous witch
Haud far awa and let me be
keep your distance and leave me be.
Afore I'll kiss yer ugly mou
I would rather dance around the tree
I'd raither toddle aroond the tree"
than give you an affectionate peck on the cheek."
Contributed by Peyton O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cam
Absolutely love this.
SilverWolfMoon
Thank you for the details :) I'm familiar with Folk-Rock & Scottish / Irish Folk versions of several Child Ballads, such as 'The Cruel Sister', 'The Twa Corbies', 'The Unquiet Grave', 'The False Night on the Road', 'Edward', 'Willie's Lady', 'The Bonnie Banks o Fordie', 'Tam Lin', 'The Laily Worm', 'The Twa Magaicians', 'Sir Patrick Spens', 'The Bonny Earl of Moray', 'Gypsy Davey', 'Geordie', 'The Dowie Dens of Yarrow', mostly by Old Blind Dogs and such...
oneoflokis
I like Steeleye Span, myself! 🙂👍
oneoflokis
This is a really nice version of Alison GROSS, as I happen to know of the song! 🙂👍
SilverWolfMoon
Another common one is 'The Cruel Sister' ~ as done by Pentangle, and Old Blind Dogs. It's also known as 'The Two Sisters' {Clannad}, and 'The Bonny Swans' {Loreena McKennitt}, each with differing lyrics, but the same basic story.
oneoflokis
Good, innit?! 🙂👍
jennienimhaoil
Beautiful!!
Carol Cripps
It could be a local variation on the name. Katherine Briggs, in her "British Folk Tales and Legends: A Sampler" lists it as Alison Gross. She also has the man's sister Maisry tending the worm every Saturday night, washing its head in a silver basin and combing it with a silver comb, until the Faerie queen reverses the spell on Hallowe'en. Obviously an old tale/song, with many variations.
Алексей Щуров
That's a bit other version from Child's collection 'A Lially Worm and A Mackrel of the Sea'. Many critics also regard it as a parallel to 'Alison Gross'. The creual step-mother turns a step-son into an ugly worm (maybe a dragon for he slayed 7 knights) and a step-daughter into a mackrel who combs her brother's head in some way. The father hears the story and makes the witch to turn the worm back into a youth. But the sister turned so scared that she prefers to remain a sea-fish. Of course, the wicked lady was burnt to ashes.
Josh Robinson
I'm in love with your accent.