In the lead up to his triumph it is a mythological fact that in a dark Hebridean cave Robert gazed admirably at a spider weaving it’s web. This gave him the belief that nothing was beyond his reach. What is not so well known is that, as the spider was his only companion at this time, he didn’t like to leave the cave without letting the spider know where he was going. On one of these occasions he etched onto the cave wall the immortal words, “Ah’ll be back in a meenit, jist awa’ tae the caramel log fir a single fish.” Little did he know it, but that day another legend was born, the legend of Jockney Rhyming Slang.

 

Over 400 years passed and not one other soul had entered that cave until Dr Samuel Johnson chanced upon it when seeking shelter during a storm on his tour of Scotland  in 1773. Intrigued by the strange writing on the cave wall he noted Robert the Bruce’s words down in his diary and asked his Scottish companion James Boswell to interpret them. He instantly warmed to this subtle use of substituting alternative similar sounding words for common objects and actions. Back in London Dr Johnson told friends of his discovery and they began to create their own examples of Rhyming Slang. Over the following century this slowly developed into the Cockney version of the Scottish original. Just another example of a great Scottish invention unscrupulously exploited by a nation with a lack of inspiration.

 

This is the introduction to the world’s first book dedicated solely to Scottish rhyming slang which brings to you a flavour of  Caledonian verbal heritage both ancient and modern. This publication is quite simply a must have for any self respecting Scot.

 

Published by Crombie Jardine, JOCKNEY RHYMING SLANG is now available from all leading book retailers.