The Auld Doctor and other Poems and Songs in Scots

A lively bundle of Scots verses and tunes, this collection lets a witty, country‑born physician speak straight from the bedside to the hearth. In breezy, tongue‑in‑cheek language the poet spins everyday clinic scenes into song, sketching patients, wives and village gossip with a hearty dose of self‑deprecating humor. The opening pieces already set the tone, mixing the clang of the “crambo‑clink” with the rustle of braes and the chatter of a bustling lowland hamlet.

Among the standout numbers are a satire on the doctor’s endless chores, a rollicking tale of a “lum hat wanting the croon,” and a cheeky “Pawky Duke” that has already found its way into student songbooks. Listeners will hear vivid snapshots of fishing folk, stubborn wives and mischievous spirits, all rendered in a sing‑song Scots dialect that feels both familiar and fresh. It’s a charming listen for anyone who enjoys humor, heritage and a touch of rural medicine.