in English & Methil Dialect

Seeing as this section is about the people of Scotland, perhaps it is time to let the real people come up to the front. Not those who have money, or were born in a fancy house. Just the ordinary folk that left their mark where it counts - in the hearts and minds of those who are still around.

Uncle Hughie wiz a Communist.
Ah ken that's no fashionable these days, but Hughie wiz a believer. Born in the coal toons o Fife, in Denbeath when it wis a village 'nd no jist a bit o Methil, Hughie shairly fund his cause. Communism wis taught b' a grannie in the Methilhill cottages, and wur sair fur a bit equality and comradeship. Uncle Hughie was a Communist.
I know that such notions are not fashionable, these days, but Hughie was a believer. Born in the coal towns of Fife; in Denbeath, when it was a village and not just an area of Methil, Hughie surely found his cause. Communism was taught by a grandmother in the Methilhill cottages, and people were desperate for equality and comradeship.

Of coorse, Man bein the kind o person that he is, he turned Communism into summit fur his ain benefit, and an awfy lot of folk suffered cause o it.
And in time, it a' fell doon, and better fur it. Of course, Man bein the kind of person that he is, he turned Communism into something for his own benefit, and an lot of people suffered cause of it.
In time, it all fell down, and better for it.

But as ah sayed, Hughie wis a believer. He worked fur the 'Cause', drew pictchers fur the 'Daily Worker', wrot articles fur the p'pers. Ah suppose he wis wan o thame whit Stalin ca'd "useful fools". Wan thing wis certain. If the gemme hid gaun the ither wey, he wid probably been wan o the first t' get the the 'big elby' when the Commissars took ow'r. As I said, Hughie was a believer. He worked for the 'Cause', drew pictures for the 'Daily Worker', wrote articles for the papers. I suppose that he was one of those, that Stalin called "useful fools". One thing was certain. If the game had gone the other wey, he would probably been one the first to get the the 'big elbow' (shot!), when the Commissars took over.

It didne happen that wey. And yer thinkin that Hughie didne 'mount to much.
Ye'd be wrang!
Hughie jined the 'International Brigade', and focht in Spain aginst the Fascists. Years afore the rest o us got roond tae it. A brave man.
And yet, he wisne a 'hawk'.
When he wis commandin a squadron o tanks, he yased them to cirry civilians. Famelies, bairns, refugees. He helped them get awa fae the advancin enemy.
So when a big, fit felly jumped up on the tank, Hughie telt him tae "Get aff!".
"I'm Ernest Hemingway", the felly sayed.
"Ah dae gie a ****!", says Hughie. "If y' dae get doon, ah'll shoot ye!"
He maybe didnae dae much fur literature but ye c'n fund his name on the memorial. It never turned out, that way. And you're probably thinking that Hughie didn't amount to much.
You'd be wrong!
Hughie joined the 'International Brigade', and fought, in Spain, against the Fascists. Years before the rest of us got round to it. A brave man.
And yet, he wis not a 'hawk'.
When he was commanding a squadron of tanks, he used them to carry civilians. Families, children, refugees. He helped them escape away from the advancing enemy.
So when a big, fit many jumped up on the tank, Hughie told him to "Get off!".
"I'm Ernest Hemingway", the man said.
"I don't give a ****!", says Hughie. "If you don't get down, I will shoot you!"
Perhaps, he didn't do much for literature, but you can find his name on the memorial.

TO HONOUR THE MEMORY OF
THOSE WHO WENT FROM THE LOTHIANS AND FIFE TO SERVE
IN THE WAR IN SPAIN
1936-1939

NOT TO A FANFARE OF TRUMPETS
NOR EVEN THE SKIRL O THE PIPES
NOT FOR THE OFFER OF A SHILLING
NOR TO SEE THEIR NAMES UP IN LIGHTS

THEIR CALL WAS A CRY OF ANGUISH
FROM THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE OF SPAIN
SOME PAID WITH THEIR LIVES IT IS TRUE
THEIR SACRIFICE WAS NOT IN VAIN

We like to remember him in anither wey.
In his hoose, there wis a pictcher on the wa'. Mah sister asked auntie Jeannie ...
"Wha's the man in the pictcher?"
Auntie Jeannie's quick reply wis "That's yur Uncle Joe!"
Noo that ah've done a bit o this genealogy, we realise that Joe Stalin wisne really mah dad's brither. We like to remember him in another way.
In his hoose, there was a picture on the wall. My sister asked Auntie Jeannie ...
"Who is the man in the picture?"
Auntie Jeannie's quick reply was "That's your Uncle Joe!"
Now that I've studied a bit of genealogy, we now realise that Joe Stalin was not really my dad's brother.

Hughie's gone noo. His ashes are scattered in the fields o Catalunya.
The sojer's hame noo. Hughie's gone now. His ashes are scattered in the fields of Catalonia.
The soldier has returned home.

Original material © Dave Sloan 2005, 2016
'tachras' and 'Winding Yarn' © Dave Sloan 2005, 2016