Willie's Fatal Visit

Contributors

Robertson, Stanley, 1940-2009 (2895)

Fieldworkers

McDermitt, Barbara, 1934- (5182)

Date 07 July 1979

Track ID 67495

Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1979.133.A4

Original Tape ID

SA1979.133

Summary

Stanley Robertson introduces and then sings a ballad that he has only heard from Travellers, including Maggie Stewart and Jeannie [Robertson]. It tells of hatred beyond the grave. Willie got a young girl into trouble and murdered her at Mary's Stile. Passing there some years later, he saw her ghost, and she asked him to repent and she would forgive him. He refused, so she tore him in half and hung him on the stile, where he was found by his new sweetheart.

Item Notes

7 verses. Fragment of Child ballad no. 255, 'Willie's Fatal Visit', approximately the latter third of Child's version, from Buchan's 'Ancient Ballads and Songs of the North of Scotland', vol. II, pp. 259-262.

Recording Location

County - Aberdeenshire

Parish - Aberdeen

Village/Place - Aberdeen

Language

English, Scots

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good