The Scots
a Dirge
The Scots - meaning Summary
Stereotypes in a Dirge
This short, mock-dirge catalogs the speaker’s encounters with different kinds of Scots, using repetitive, plain language and humor to sketch national stereotypes. Each stanza names a type — red, black, ginger, short, long — and summarizes how they behave in petty economic transactions, often cheating or shortchanging. The tone is colloquial and ironic; the cumulative listing builds a comic portrait of mistrust and rivalry rather than solemn mourning.
Read Complete AnalysesBlack Scots and red Scots, Red Scots and black; I hae dealt wi’ the red Scot, An’ dealt wi’ the black. The Red Scot is angry Among the sons o’ men He’ll pay you a bawbee, An’ steal it back again. Black Scots and red Scots, Red Scots and black; I hae dealt wi’ the red Scot, An’ dealt wi’ the black. The Black Scot is frien’ly A brither an’ a’ He’ll pay you a bawbee, An’ steal back twa. The Ginger Scot o’ a’ Scots, The warst shade o’ Scot, For he’ll pay ye naething, An’ tak’ a’ you’ve got. Black Scots and red Scots, Short Scots an’ lang, Ginger Scots an’ bald Scots I dealt wi’ the gang.
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