Duncan Williamson plays "Rafferty's Goat" on the Jew's harp, with comments (video)

Instrumentalist

Williamson, Duncan

Date

• 1986

Summary

• Duncan Williamson plays the tune called "Rafferty's Goat" on the Jew's harp. As he explains, "Rafferty was an old rascal who kept a well-known billy-goat. They used to run wild in Ireland and raid the gardens. When young girls went courting and their fathers got jealous of the young man, the girls would say they were just 'cuddling Rafferty’s goat'. So they wrote this tune." The recording was made by John Niles and members of his research team in a rented house in the town of Auchtermuchty, Fife.