Hawick Common Riding

A deep love of Hawick and the Common Riding has, over past generations, inspired some people to express their feelings in verse. Musicians heard and read these poems. They liked many of them enough to set tunes to the poems and so gave us the songs we have learned to love.

"Teribus is, by a long way, the oldest of our songs. The words written by James Hogg, date back to 1819. But the tune dates back to, at least, the sixteenth century. When Hogg was asked about this, he replied, " it's air's eternal" That's why it is often referred to as " The Eternal Air ". Actually Hogg named the song "The Colour" but it is better known now as "Teribus". An old copy of the tune is preserved in the Library. However, it only vaguely resembles the tune used today. James Hogg died at 14 Loan in 1838 and a plaque to his memory can be seen there. There was also an old version of this song. This was written by Arthur Balbirnie and was the official "Common-Riding Song" for about twenty years till James HoggÌs version was published. The old song is still sung today. The principals each sing verses from it every Common-Riding Friday morning after the Cornet's Breakfast.

"The Border Queen" and another very popular song "Up WiÌ The Banner" were written by James Thomson. He became quite famous with a song called " Star o' Robbie BurnsÓ. He died in 1888 and was buried in the Wellogate Cemetery where a memorial was erected to him. The words of " The Border Queen " were at first sung to several tunes. But they had little success. However, when the present tune was written specially for the words this changed. Indeed the song became a great success. It has been sung at every Common-Riding since the Colour-Bussing of 1887.

"Up Wi Auld Hawick" was written and composed for John Bell, a local singer, and was sung by him at the Colour-Bussing of 1902. The words were written by Thomas Caldwell and the tune was composed by Adam Grant. Grant, born in 1859, contributed more than anyone else to the town's heritage of song. He wrote a great deal of music. He set or arranged music to no fewer than twelve of our songs. Grant had a music shop in Bridge Street, near the Post Office. Caldwell and Grant also wrote " Oor Ain Auld Toon" which is dedicated to "all Hawick Callants in exile". " Hawick" is another of Adam Grant's tunes and was first used at the Colour-bussing of 1910.

"The Mosstrooper's Song" was composed in 1931 by Adam McL. Colledge. For many years he was music teacher at Hawick High School and organist at the Old Parish Church.. The words, in the Hawick dialect, were written by ex-Cornet J. E. D. Murray. He was born in Hawick in 1858 and was a great supporter of the Common-Riding. "Jed" Murray wrote many of the town's best-loved poems and songs, including two great favourites, "Clinty's Song" and "Meda's Song ".

" The Banner Blue " was first sung in 1911. The words were written by John Inglis who donated the proceeds towards the building of St. John's Church. Inglis, for many years curator of the Hawick Museum, came from an interesting family. His maternal grandfather was the last ferryman at the Coble before the Teviot Bridge was built. Inglis also wrote the words of " Hawick Among the HillsÓ.

One of the oldest of our songs, "Pawkie Paiterson" was written about the same time as "Teribus". It was written by a "Soapy" Ballantyne. He was a cousin of Wat the Drummer who is mentioned in a verse of " The Border Queen ". It is often sung at the Common-Riding.

Many other of Hawick's Songs are very popular and are often sung at the Common-Riding functions. Some of them praise Hawick like the sentimental. "I like Auld Hawick the Best" by T Ker. This song is different in one way. It has a different chorus for each verse unlike other songs which have only one chorus for all the verses. This sometimes leads to confusion when the audience joins in.

Other songs praise the Borderland such as "The Soft Lowland Tongue". This was written and composed by W. Sanderson who for many years edited the "Border Magazine" and wrote many poems. This song is sung at many of the Border Common-Ridings and is often included in Scottish song books.

A humorous song, "Kinly Stick", was written by W. Easton who had a talent for writing about some of the characters of the day. Another of his humorous songs "The Anvil Crew" tells the story of a group of well known local lads who played with a punt on the River Teviot.

"The invocation," a hymn-like tune, was written by ''Jed" Murray and Adam Grant. It was written to be a fitting end to the Hawick "Quater Centenary Pageant" (June 2, 1914). The song was intended to be sung in the open air by a large audience, accompanied by the Saxhorn Band. "The Invocation" now closes the ceremonial part of the Common-Riding. It is played by the Saxhorn Band outside the Town Hall on the Saturday afternoon when the Cornet returns the flag to the Provost. The mounted supporters stand to attention in their stirrups during this time.

Finally it is interesting to note that at all Common-Riding social functions the Cornet's Toast is always recognised by the verse of " Teribus "-" Annual since, our Flag's been carriedÓ. The toast to the Acting Father is the verse "Magistrates! Be faithful trusteesÓ. The toast to the Right and Left-Hand Men is " They are Jolly Good Fellows". Instead of ending with " Auld Lang Syne" "Cornet's Up" is used. Here the whole company stands while the Cornet, Right and Left and all ex-Cornets present stand on their chairs. Each in turn sings a verse of "TeribusÓ. On some occasions an official singer may be appointed to sing the verses. In very small companies the Cornet, Right and Left and Acting Father sing a verse each, the Cornet ending with " Peace be thy portion, Hawick for ever !