Text & Translation
The Witches' Reel
source:
Traditional Scottish
Gin ye winna gae before, cummer let me,
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Linkin lithely widdershins,
Cummers carlin cron and queyn
Roun gae we!
Cummer gae ye before, cummer gae ye,
Gin ye winna gae before, cummer let me,
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Loupin’ lightly widdershins,
Kilted coats and fleein’ hair
Three times three!
Cummer gae ye before, cummer gae ye,
Gin ye winna gae before, cummer let me,
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Whirlin’ skirlin’ widdershins,
De’il tak the hindmost
Wha’er she be!
Witches' Reel
English translation ©
Rowan Hellier
If you won’t go before, woman, let me
Ring-a-ring-a-counter-clockwise
Linking hands nimbly counter-clockwise
Lady’s old lady crown and queen
Around we go!
Woman, go before, woman go on,
If you won’t go before, woman, let me
Ring-a-ring-a-counter-clockwise
Dashing lightly counter-clockwise
Tucked-in coats and loose hair
Three times three!
Woman, go before, woman go on,
If you won’t go before, woman, let me
Ring-a-ring-a-counter-clockwise
Whirling, shouting counter-clockwise
Devil take the hindmost
Wherever she be!
The Witches' Reel
source:
Traditional Scottish
Witches' Reel
English source:
Rowan Hellier
Cummer gae ye before, cummer gae ye,
Woman, go before, woman go on,
Gin ye winna gae before, cummer let me,
If you won’t go before, woman, let me
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Ring-a-ring-a-counter-clockwise
Linkin lithely widdershins,
Linking hands nimbly counter-clockwise
Cummers carlin cron and queyn
Lady’s old lady crown and queen
Roun gae we!
Around we go!
Cummer gae ye before, cummer gae ye,
Woman, go before, woman go on,
Gin ye winna gae before, cummer let me,
If you won’t go before, woman, let me
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Ring-a-ring-a-counter-clockwise
Loupin’ lightly widdershins,
Dashing lightly counter-clockwise
Kilted coats and fleein’ hair
Tucked-in coats and loose hair
Three times three!
Three times three!
Cummer gae ye before, cummer gae ye,
Woman, go before, woman go on,
Gin ye winna gae before, cummer let me,
If you won’t go before, woman, let me
Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins
Ring-a-ring-a-counter-clockwise
Whirlin’ skirlin’ widdershins,
Whirling, shouting counter-clockwise
De’il tak the hindmost
Devil take the hindmost
Wha’er she be!
Wherever she be!
