Ian (@sirsnapalot)
May 17th 2020, 4:56 am
197 Listens
51k9ryz

"Donald Where's Your Troosers?" is a comic song about a Scotsman who wears a kilt rather than trousers. It was written by Andy Stewart with music by Neil Grant. When performed by Andy Stewart and the White Heather Group, it was a hit in 1960, reaching number 37 in the UK Singles Chart and number 1 in Canada. When re-released in 1989, it became an even bigger hit, reaching number 4 in the UK.

Stewart wrote the song in 10 minutes while he sat, trouserless, in the lavatory of a recording studio. The song tells of a rustic Scotsman who wears the kilt in defiance of the shock this causes to polite society such as well-spoken ladies on the London Underground. The music supports the theme in its chord progression, which shifts from the double tonic of Scottish music to a V-i cadence more typical of highbrow music. As performed by Andy Stewart, a verse is also performed in the style of Elvis Presley to provide yet another amusing clash of cultures.

The re-release happened when BBC DJ Simon Mayo played the song on The Radio 1 Breakfast Show in November 1989 and then responded to listener's requests for replays, "We were in the mood for novelty nonsense, so we kept playing it". Sonet Records then quickly arranged a deal with EMI to release the song on the Stone label as a Christmas single – a market in which novelty songs often did well. Mayo continued to give it lots of airplay and the song was number 4 in the UK Singles Chart at Christmas behind Jive Bunny's "Let's Party" and Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?". Stewart was not expecting this renewed success:

It was a great surprise to me. I was sittin' in the hoose one night and the phone rang. It was another record company, and he said "...they tell me you're aiming for number one at Christmas this year..." - I said: "You're Joking?" and I quickly whipped out my diary to make sure it wisnae the 1st of April! It all just happened very suddenly, and very strangely. It's one of these things that happen in showbusiness
— Andy Stewart

The song was ranked 17th in a poll of the UK's favourite comic songs in 2009. It was performed as part of the opening ceremony for the 2014 Commonwealth Games

admin: @sirsnapalot Ahahaha just the smiles I needed to start my day. This is awesome my friend. Loved and enjoyed my listen ♥
May 17th 2020, 5:07 am Report
Bev: @sirsnapalot Got me smiling here this morning Ian. Just loved this. ♥♫
May 17th 2020, 5:21 am Report
Ian: @admin thank you so much just a little song to lift the Spirits
May 17th 2020, 5:35 am Report
Ian: @bevb thank you for the compliment Bev
May 17th 2020, 5:36 am Report
Jay Dotson: Jay455One I never heard before and really think is awesome great fun much enjoyed
May 17th 2020, 10:11 am Report
Ian: @jay455 it is always good to have a laugh now and again turn many thanks for coming in listening
May 17th 2020, 10:15 am Report
James Fronck: @sirsnapalot lol. Loved this. Way to go.
May 17th 2020, 4:31 pm Report
Joe Huber: @sirsnapalot Hi Ian enjoyed thanks for sharing.
May 17th 2020, 8:01 pm Report
Ian: @elvisfan Thank you for listening
May 18th 2020, 1:22 am Report
Ian: @joehuber Many thanks for listening
May 18th 2020, 1:22 am Report