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Coorie Doon / The Miner’s Lullaby

[ Roud - ; DT COORIDON ; Mudcat 5742 ; Matt McGinn]

Norman Buchan and Peter Hall: The Scottish Folksinger

Matt McGinn sang his own song Coorie Doon (“Cuddle down”) in 1968 on his Transatlantic album Honesty Is Out of the Fashion.

Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise sang A Miner’s Lullaby (Coorie Doon) in 1986 on their Kettle album Reaching Out.

Christina Stewart sang The Miner’s Lullaby on her 2010 album of lullabies from Scottish tradition, Kist o Dreams. She noted:

Matt McGinn is probably best known for his satirical songs, which carry a distinctly left wing sensibility. He was a prolific songwriter who embraced the Scottish folk song revival of the 1960s, as well as being an actor, poet and activist. The Miner’s Lullaby is a subtle composition.

This is my version of Matt McGinn’s song which varies only slightly from the original. I was unaware when I saw the original in The Scottish Folksinger that it was such a recently written song. It has established a place in the oral tradition which is where I learned it and why it has evolved.

Ewan McLennan sang Coorie Doon in 2014 on his Fellside album Stories Still Untold. He noted:

This is a sweet and beautiful lullaby to the child of a miner, written by the folk singer and songwriter Matt McGinn—a man Pete Seeger called the Scottish Woodie Guthrie. But it’s more than that too, as you can hear in the veiled anger of McGinn’s words that describe the conditions of the mines and weariness of the miners.

For a few years now I’ve been performing this as the final song at gigs and it seemed like a good one to sing the album out with too.

Cölaire Hastings sang Coorie Doon in 2023 on her Luckenbooth album Lullabies From Scotland.

Lyrics

Matt McQuinn sing Coorie Doon

Lie doon, ma dear, and in your ear,
Tae help you close your eyes,
I‘ll sing a song, a slumber song,
A miner‘s lullaby.

Chorus (after each verse):
Coorie doon, coorie doon, coorie doon, ma darlin‘,
Coorie doon the day.
Coorie doon, coorie doon, coorie doon, ma darlin‘,
Coorie doon the day.

Your daddy‘s doon the mine, ma darlin,
Doon in the Curlby Main.
Your daddy‘s howkin‘ coal, ma darlin‘,
For his ain wee wean.

There‘s darkness doon the mine, ma darlin‘,
Darkness, dust and damp,
But we must hae oor heat, oor light,
Oor fire, and oor lamp.

Your daddy coories doon, ma darlin‘,
Doon in a three-foot seam,
So you can coorie doon, ma darlin‘,
Coorie doon and dream.

Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise sing A Miner’s Lullaby (Coorie Doon)

Lie still my dear, and in your ear
To help you close your eyes
I’ll sing a song, a slumber song
A miner’s lullaby

Yer Daddy’s doon the mine, my darlin’
Doon in the Curblie Main
And he’s howkin’ coal for you, my darlin’
For his ain wee waen

There’s darkness doon the mine, my darlin’
Darkness, dust and damp
But we must hae oor heat, oor light
Oor fire and oor lamp

Yer Daddy coories doon, my darlin’
Doon in a three fit seam
So you can coorie doon, my darlin’
Coorie doon and dream

Christina Stewart sings The Miner’s Lullaby

Chorus (twice after each verse):
Coorie doon, coorie doon, coorie doon, my darling
Coorie doon, my dear

Coorie doon my dear an’ in yer ear,
While stars light up the sky,
I’ll sing a song, a slumber song,
A miner’s lullaby

Yer daddy’s in the darkness darling,
Darkness, dust and damp,
So we may hie oor milk, oor meal,
Oor fire an’ oor lamp

Yer daddy’s howkin’ coal my darling,
Doon the Kirby main
Yer daddy’s howkin’ coal my darlin’,
For his ain wee wean

Yer daddy coories doon my darling,
Doon in a three fit seam
So we may coorie doon my darling,
Coorie doon an’ dream

Coorie doon my dear an’ in yer ear,
While stars light up the sky,
I’ll sing a song, a slumber song,
A miner’s lullaby