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Young Emslie

Date August 1954
Track ID 38041
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1954.103.A4

Original Tape ID

SA1954.103

Summary

This song tells the story of young Emslie who loved a sailor called Edward. She warns the sailor that if he visits a public house down on the shore, he must not let her parents know. Edward does go drinking however, and Emslie dreams that her parents have killed him. She confronts her mother and she admits the murder. The girl says that they will die "on a public shore".

Jeannie Robertson heard this song from her mother. It is based on fact: when young sailors came off the boats, they were lured into drinking places where they were given a bed, then robbed and murdered, and the bodies were thrown into the water.

Item Notes

8 verses. Verses 1, 4 and 5 omit the third line of the tune, giving three-line stanzas. Music and text transcribed in 'Tocher' 9 (1973, pp. 16-17). This is a version of 'Edwin in the Lowlands Low', Laws no. M34.

See also:
'Jeannie Robertson: Emergent Singer, Transformative Voice' (J. Porter & H. Gower, 1995) pp. 234-236

Recording Location

County - Aberdeenshire

Parish - Aberdeen

Village/Place - Aberdeen

Language

English

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R182 GD189 LG11

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good