The Bonny Green Tree
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1962.67.A4
Original Tape ID
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
Genre
Collection
Classification
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Fair