This bothy ballad complains about the hard work and poor conditions on a farm on higher land than the young worker is used to. It is a close relative of the song ‘The Barnyards of Delgaty’.

At Rhynie I sheared my first hairst,
Near tae the fit o Benachie,
Ma maister wis richt ill tae fit,
But laith wis I tae loss my fee
Lilten ourin ourin addie,
Lilten ourin ourin ee.

Rhynie's wark it's ill tae work,
An Rhynie's wauges is bit sma,
An Rhynie's laws are double strick,
And that does grieve me warst of aa.
Lilten ourin ourin addie,
Lilten ourin ourin ee.

Rhynie it's a cauld clay hole,
It's far fae like ma faither's toun,
An Rhynie it's a hungry place,
It disnae suit a Lowland loon.
Lilten ourin ourin addie,
Lilten ourin ourin ee.

Bit sair I've rocht and sair I've focht
An I hae won my penny fee,
An I'll ging back the gate I cam,
An a better bairnie I will be
Lilten ourin ourin addie,
Lilten ourin ourin ee.

Listen to 'Rhynie' sung by Jock Duncan, a former farm worker from the North East.
From CD 82161-1835-2, Rounder Records.

From the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Used courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity.