Willie's Fatal Visit
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1979.133.A4
Original Tape ID
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
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good