Coulters Candy

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Coulters Candy, also known as "Alie Balie" is a Scottish folk song originating from Galashiels.

It was written by Robert Coltard (died 1890) as kind of advertising jingle. The aniseed-flavoured candy was manufactured in Melrose. Unfortunately the recipe for this children's delight died with him, but the song lived on. In 1958 a letter in "The Weekly Scotsman" reported that a man remembered hearing it from his grandmother, who in turn had learned the song about 1845. It was collected in a children's playground in 1964 by James T. Ritche's. He published it in a book called "The Singing Street". Presumably the original version would have been "Coltard's Candy". It was recorded by Donovan on "HMS Donovan" (1971). Canadian singer Catherine McKinnon also recorded a fine version of the song on her album "Voice Of An Angel Vol. 1." Hamish Imlach recorded a parody version, where a buyer complains about the poor quality of the candy. Ray Fisher notes that it has become a lullaby. The word Bawbee is old currency - a silver sixpence. Alexander Orrok of Sillebawby was a 16th-century head of the Scottish Mint. The coin went out of circulation in 1707 but the word lived on, used to refer to a bronze halfpenny.

Meaning of unusual words:

• rickle=heap

[edit] External references

• Robert Coltard
• notes
• lyrics
• Bawbee