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Scottish folk singer sings many songs of 18th-century poet Robert Burns.
Jim Malcolm and Robert Burns have been keeping company for a long time.
Malcolm is a folk singer from Scotland and Burns, an 18th-century poet and lyricist, is the country’s favorite son.
“There are a lot of people from Scotland who sing Burns’ songs, but I’m probably one of the more well-known interpreters,” he said in a phone interview.
Malcolm’s all-time favorite Burns song is “Westlin Winds.”
“It’s a song about autumn in Scotland. Burns was a farmer, and this is a song about the birds and animals milling around in the Scottish countryside on an autumn night and the moon shining. It’s a beautiful and haunting song,” he said.
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Jim Malcolm WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23 WHERE: The Cooperage, 7220 Lomas NE HOW MUCH: $17 at ampconcerts.org, by calling 886-1251 or go to Hold My Ticket, 210 Second SW |
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Malcolm – who fronted the band Old Blind Dogs for eight years – said he sings it at almost all of his concerts. He’ll be on stage Tuesday, Oct. 23, at The Cooperage.
He said Burns is so respected because his songs and poems impart a lot of wisdom and cover many subjects.
“He wrote songs about almost every aspect of life – funny songs, tragic songs, songs about relationships, political songs and probably a song for every occasion,” Malcolm said.
A still-popular Burns song with political overtones is “A Man’s A Man For A’ That.” Malcolm said the song was inspired by the American Revolution and how the Americans kicked out the British. The song was chosen to be sung at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
Another Burns political song, “Parcel of Rogues,” ridicules the British for bribing the Scottish nobility in 1707 in order to unite England and Scotland.
“So the aristocrats voted (Scottish) Parliament out of existence for money,” said Malcolm, who lives in Perth, Scotland.
He quoted from the song: “We are bought and sold for English gold, such a parcel of rogues in a nation …”
Malcolm also writes his own songs, which are strongly influenced by traditional Scottish folk music.
“And I do tend to tell stories and jokes and things,” he said of his concerts. “I like to get people laughing, to get them involved. That’s very much a Scottish tradition as well. Some of the songs are quite sad so it’s nice to cheer people up in between.”
Reprint story -- Email the reporter at dsteinberg@abqjournal.com. Call the reporter at 505-823-3925
