Gudewife, Count The Lawin

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a scene of communal revelry, where the darkness of night is overcome by the warmth of drink and camaraderie. The opening lines establish a defiant mood against the "mirk" of night, suggesting that the "gude ale and bratdy's stars and moon" provide their own illumination. This sets the stage for a celebration where the "blue-red wine's the risin' sun," blurring the lines between night and day, and between the mundane and the extraordinary. The chorus, "Then gudewife, count the lawin', / And bring a coggie mair," acts as a persistent call to prolong the festivities, emphasizing a desire to keep the good times rolling without concern for the cost or the passage of time. This refrain underscores the central tension: the temporary escape from reality and responsibility offered by intoxication, contrasted with the implied need to eventually settle the "lawin" – the bill. The lyrics cleverly contrast social strata with the democratizing effect of alcohol. While "gentlemen" have "wealth and ease" and "simple folk maun fecht and fen'," within this gathering, "ilka man that's drunk's a lord." This suggests that for the duration of their revelry, social distinctions dissolve, replaced by a shared, albeit temporary, sense of elevated status and equality. The narrator's personal experience is framed through potent metaphors. His "coggie" (a cup or bowl) becomes a "haly pool" that "heals the wounds o' care and dool," highlighting the therapeutic, escapist power of the drink. Furthermore, "Pleasure is a wanton trout," an image that implies it's elusive and best caught through complete immersion – "An ye drink it a', ye'll find him out" – reinforcing the idea that full indulgence is the key to experiencing this heightened state of being.