Willie Scott

Willie Scott Was Born In 1897 Near Canobie In Dumfriesshire In The South Of Scotland. He Left School At 11 To Work On A Farm At Stobs Near Hawick. His Adult Life Was Spent As A Shepherd At Various Farms In The High Hills Of The Scottish Borders. Willie Sang At Social Gatherings Shepherds Suppers And The Like. He Picked His Songs Up From A Multitude Of Sources And Continued To Add Songs He Liked To His Repertoire Right Up To His Death. Many Of His Songs However Were Learned From His Mother And Father. He Began To Be Known To A Wider Audience When Francis Collinson From The School Of Scottish Studies Recorded Him As Part Of Their Project Collecting The Songs And Ballads Of The Borders. The Folk Revivial In The Sixties Brought Him Further Recognition. Following His Performances At The Howff Folk Club In Dunfermline He Became More Widely Known. Following His Retirement From Shepherding In 1968 His Singing Took Him As Far Afield As Australia And The USA. His Signature Song "The Shepherd's Song" Described His Life. Many Of His Songs Were Transcribed And Compiled By Alison McMorland And Are Available In The Book "Herd Laddie O' The Glen" Which Is Available Through The School Of Scottish Studies At The University Of Edinburgh. Willie Died In 1989 Aged 92 read less