Both sides the Tweed

"Both sides the Tweed" is a reworking by singer Dick Gaughan of a traditional song from 1707 attributed to James Hogg *about the Treaty of Union between Scotland and England. Gaughan made minor changes to the words and added his own tune [http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/songs/texts/tweed.html] . The song was written in 1979 and first appeared on Gaughan's 1981 album Handful of Earth. Though Gaughan's recording was embraced by music critics at the time, the song achieved wide popularity only later when it was recorded by the Scottish group Capercaillie on their album "Sidewaulk".

Gaughan assembled the song in response to the result of the first Scottish Parliament referendum in 1979 which had the controversial ruling whereby a simple majority was not enough to win a devolved parliament for Scotland. Instead it required that 40% of the entire Scottish electorate, not just those who voted, had to vote yes. A non-vote was therefore effectively a "no" vote. In the referendum 52% of those who voted voted yes, but as this only amounted to 33% of the electorate, the scheme could not be realised.

"Both sides the Tweed" speaks of the corruption involved in the negotiations leading up to the Act of Union of 1707 which linked Scotland and England on terms which nationalists believe did much damage to Scottish culture. The tone of the song, however, is conciliatory and may be read as a reaction against the Anti-Englishness of some Scottish nationalistic songs. The title refers to the River Tweed which marks the border between Scotland and England. The song is one of those which has been mentioned in recent discussions on a Scottish national anthem.

* Note that the song could not have been written in 1707 by James Hogg as he was not born intil 1770. Also Dick Gaughan disputes that the song is a reworking of a traditional tune and invites others to present evidence to the contrary.

External links

* [http://www.art.net/~4ss/oflabourandlove.html Four Shillings Short recording of "Both sides the Tweed"]