Cock up your beaver

Scottish Piper
A Scots Piper

This curious piece consists of a series of variations on the theme of the Scottish tune 'Cock Up Your Beaver'. The beaver is the beaver hat, pronounced 'bayver'in both Ireland and Scotland when this type of headgear was in vogue.
The last Scottish beaver was trapped on Loch Ness in the mid-17th century. I had always imagined it went to oblivion because its pelts made the best sporrans, but it turns out beaver glands produced the nearest to Viagra to which limp Scottish gentlemen then had access. Beaver are being quietly re-introduced.

The old Jacobite words are as follows:

1. When first my brave Johnie lad came to this town
He had a blue bonnet that wanted the crown,
But now he has gotten a hat and a feather---
Hey, brave Johnie lad, cock up your beaver!

 2. Cock up your beaver and cock it fu'sprush,
We'll over the border and gie them a brush;
There's nobody there we'll teach them better behaviour-
Hey, brave Johnie lad, cock up your beaver!

Song Notations
Song Notations

Notations are courtesy of Carolan, the Life and Times of an Irish Harper by Dónal O'Sullivan vol 1 Celtic Music Edition 1983.

Courtesy of Vivian and Jack Hennessey, IrishPage.com, 2024.
Replay background music:

Filleadh go liosta
Back to Carolan Tunes List