Wedding of Sandy McNab, The

AKAWeddin’ o’ Sandy McNabb [and similar variants]
The wedding bells were ringing
First Published1908

Writer/composerHarry LauderRoudRN13713

Music Hall PerformersHarry Lauder
Folk performancesCollected from the singing of:
Robertson, Jeannie; Scotland : Aberdeenshire; 1963
Butcher, Eddie; Ireland : Co. Derry; 1969
Modern performances
Jimmy Logan, Andy Stewart,
From UK Sheet Music, Irish Sheet Music Archive:

I'm on my way hame frae a marriage
It's been a splendishus affair
Of course I went there in a carriage
A beautiful carriage and pair
Sandy Mac-Nab was the bride groom
The bride was a bonnie wee lamb
Wi' nice curly hair and complexion
Redder than strawberry jam

And the wedding bells were ringing
All the boys were singing
Here's tae you and yours and me and mine (Ta-Ra-Ra!)
Then we had a drappie
Just tae make us happy
For the days o' Auld Lang Syne

[Spoken Patter at this point in recorded version below, remaining verses omitted]

We never thocht Sandy would marry
He was one o' thae nice simple men
We always thought Sandy would tarry
But then ye ken ye never ken
For love it's a terrible feeling
Mac-Nab says it's something sublime
Mac-Nab says ye want tae be kissing
Or squeezing yer lass a' the time

The bride she was dressed like a fairy
In beautiful tartan and lace
Mac-Nab wore his kilt and glengarry
And a beautiful smile on his face
Mac-Nab he was looking so cheery
Mac-Nab was in love ye could tell
Mac-Nab he was fond o' his dearie
When Mac-Nab dees I'll wed her masel

One of several Scottish songs featuring a person called Sandy McNabb (precise spellings vary, some examples of other songs are given below). This particular song was written, composed and first performed by Harry Lauder in 1908. Like many of Harry’s songs it seems to have been popular amongst English speaking troops in World War I.

It was later collected from traditional singers in Scotland and Ireland, notably from Jeannie Robertson, an important traditional singer from the Scottish traveller community.

In the late 19th and early 20th century the name Sandy McNab was a name commonly used in plays and songs to signify a certain caricature of “Scottishness”. Songs featuring the name included:

A children’s round (origin unknown):

There was an old fellow named Sandy McNabb
Who had for his supper a very fine crab
And had to be carried home in a cab

Mary Catherine Taylor (1977), Book of Rounds

A song probably from the first half of the 19th century found on broadsides, called simply Sandy McNab, which started with the chorus:

The Highlands were pested wi’ Sandy McNab,
The Lowlands molested by Sandy McNab;
The old folks did sigh and the young ones did sab
Aye after a visit frae Sandy McNabb

The Poet’s Box (Glasgow), Bodleian Ballads

An early 20th century music hall song sung by Alick Lauder, Harry’s brother called Hooch, Sandy! Where did you find her, eh? (1909), First Line: I’m Sandy McNab a Hieland man.

Here’s Harry singing The wedding of Sandy McNab:

Sources:

Last Updated on May 31, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: May 31, 2023

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