Search

The Bonny Green Tree

Date 1962
Track ID 35421
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1962.67.A4

Original Tape ID

SA1962.067

Summary

In this song, a rich man encounters a poor young woman under a green tree. He asks her to marry him, offering her wealth and status. She believes her low degree would prevent her from being accepted by his family, but he reassures her, saying he doesn't care. He later reneges on the vow he made to her. She ends the song with a warning: "Never indulge a young man while he is night-roving / For he will go and leave you as my false love left me."

William Lonie learned the song from his uncle.

Item Notes

6 verses of 4 lines.

See:
'More Irish Street Ballads' (C. O Lochlainn, 1978) pp. 20-21
'Sam Henry's Songs of the People' (G. Huntington, 1990) pp. 385-386
'Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland' (E. MacColl & P. Seeger, 1977) pp. 229-231

Recording Location

County - Midlothian

Parish - Lasswade

Village/Place - Loanhead

Language

English

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R2512

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Fair