The Rantin Laddie
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1977.126.B1
Original Tape ID
Summary
In this ballad, a young woman gives birth to an illegitimate baby by the 'Rantin Laddie', and her father is greatly angered. She sends a letter to the father, who is in fact the Earl of Aboyne. The Earl is moved by her words and dispatches a company to bring her to the castle, where she and her sweetheart are married, and her honour is restored.
Sheila Douglas was given this version, which comes from Gavin Greig's manuscripts, by Pat Shaw [Patrick Shuldham-Shaw]; Greig took it down from the singing of his sister, Mrs Gillespie.
Item Notes
16 verses of 4 lines.
See:
Greig-Duncan vol. 5, pp. 131-138, no. 976
'Ballad Book' (M. Leach, 1955) pp. 597-598
'Scottish Ballad Book' (D. Buchan, 1973) pp. 165-166
'The Scotish Minstrel' vol. 4 (R. A. Smith, 1824) pp. 6-7
'Traditional Ballad Airs' vol. 1 (W. Christie, 1876) pp. 210-211
'Ancient Ballads and Songs' vol. 2 (P. Buchan, 1828, 1875) pp. 63-64
'Folk-Song of the North-East' (G. Greig, K. Goldstein & A. Argo, 1963 reprint) art. CLIV
'The Scots Musical Museum' vol. 5 (J. Johnson & R. Burns, 1853) pp. 474-475, no. 462
'Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads' vol. 3 (B. H. Bronson & F. J. Child, 1959) pp. 423-426
Item Location
County - Aberdeenshire
Parish - Aboyne and Glen Tanar
Village/Place - Aboyne
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good