Search

The Evening Meeting

Date January 1952
Track ID 15729
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1952.05.A5

Original Tape ID

SA1952.005

Summary

A young girl goes to meet her love; the meeting is pleasant, but the parting a grief. She says a thief will rob you but a false lover will kill you. She was courted by one or two, but the one she really loved took the wings of Cupid and flew. She says that he can go as he pleases and she will be fine. Do not put your trust in a sycamore tree. The cuckoo is a fine bird who sings, feeds on honey, and doesn't sing till summer.

This was learned from Sandy Ross through the contributor's second wife.

Item Notes

Text and music transcribed in the School of Scottish Studies. 6 verses. Verse 5 has 10 lines instead of 8. Versions of the song have been collected in England, Scotland, Canada and the USA. Best known now as 'On Top of Old Smokey'.

See:
Greig-Duncan vol. 6, pp. 220-222
Willie Mathieson's MSS II:56
'English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians' (Cecil Sharp) vol. II, nos. 117 and 140

Language

English

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R413 GD1157

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good