to “falderalde” and later extended to “fallalderalde” by confusion with the common English and Scottish refrain: Fol-de-rol-de-ri-do, or Fal-al-de-ral-de-ri-do. This assumption is supported by a line which occurs in a fragment of the same verse that comes from Sandsting:
“komin ower de Sjolma
telda ralda rira”.
That this is a fragment of the cow-call verse is clearly evident from the words: “komin ower de Sjolma (the white-headed cow)”; and linked with this line are the words “telda ralda rira”, which appear to be meaningless, but can hardly be other than “taldar allar eru”, they are all counted (viz.: the cows). telda(r) for *talda(r), because the past tense and past participle of tell, vb., a) to count, b) now: to tell, in Shetl. is “telled” [tɛld and tæld].
A couple of lullaby fragments, sent to me by Wm Ratter, also contain lines of the cow-call verse.
a) Bā wā bȯᶇa (bɔina)
di̇̄ manna wakna
starna strɛtᶊa li̇̄ra
lɔŋspöᶇa (-spɔina)
(aa) kɔmin hɛm an ᶊɔlmu (N.Roe).
b) a variant from N.Roe, Nmn., containing a small fragment of the same verse in which only a few names of cows appear.
(aa) kɔmin hɛm an ᶊɔlmu (N.Roe).— — — — —
Flekka Ferna
Strippa Sterna
comin’ doon? and Langspina.
Starna in variant (a), and Sterna in variant (b), are *Stjarna, a cow with a spot (star) on the forehead. The form Starna has been influenced by L.Scottish starn, sb., star. Flekka, (the) spotted cow. Ferna for *Frena, piebald, spotted cow, originally *Fræna. See Ferna and Frona in Dictionary.
Langspina, a cow with long teats. O.N. speni, Fær. spini, m., teat.
Lengsprali has certainly the same meaning as Langspina; but sprali in Lengsprali is a different word from spina. Strekkja, probably means one who strays far and wide, to be classed with No. strekkja, vb., to stray far and wide, of cattle (R.).
Lira, possibly *Hlýra, a cow with a spot on the cheek, from O.N. hlýr, n., cheek, corresponding to Kinna, the name of a cow (see Dictionary), the one with the spotted cheek, O.N. kinn, f., cheek. Other derivatives are possible, but not probable, such as from No. lira, vb., to wriggle, sneak (R.), or No. lyra, vb., to walk slowly, drag oneself along (R.), Sw. dial. lira, vb., to move lightly and quickly, but quietly (Ri.).
