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What Does ‘Havering’ Mean?


“If I haver, well I know I’m gonna be — I’m gonna be the man who’s haverin’ to you.”

It’s only the 9,000th time I’ve heard this perfect song, but for whatever reason today was the day I looked it up. (Apologies to everyone who already knows.) Per Wikipedia:

In Scottish English, haver (from the Scots havers (oats)) means “to maunder; to talk foolishly; to chatter,” as heard in the song “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers

This song rules so much. It came on the other day while my daughter and I were goofing around — sorry, while we were havering (?) — and it was such a joy to watch her get into it.

Discussion  8 comments

Nicole Handy

Truly a perfect song! :) It’s been on repeat regularly for about 3/4 of my life - starting with a cassette. I had never looked up havering before either and now wondering how I could have gone this long without knowing… thanks for your curiosity!

Don Roszel

Very entertaining. Thanks for posting it. Made my day

eadmundo
Leon Barnard

I’m not usually that guy, but I remember being really taken with this cover of it from The Voice a few years back. I feel like the soberness matches the lyrics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkrkWVfu8E4

Clay Harris

I just got back from a trip to scotland with my two daughters (9 and 11) - we took a bus tour to the highlands and this song was a highlight of the trip. The tour guide plyed it a couple times and the entire bus joined in, and naturally did a front of the bus / back of the bus split of the call and response-y parts. Perfect fun.

Eamon Daly

I host karaoke professionally and sometimes I reward people who know what havering is with swag

Sara Goldsmith

If you have not seen We Are Ladyparts, first, it is great and you should! And second, there is a scene in the first episode set to that song, and it is a pure joy.

John R Burnett

I used to be convinced that they were saying *something* during the "da-da dum daa" part.

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