Bogie's Bonnie Belle
Unknown Person
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1952.37.1a
Original Tape ID
Summary
Fragment of a bothy ballad about a farm worker who is dismissed for seducing the farmer's daughter.
Item Notes
Peter Hall (Greig-Duncan vol. 7, p. 518) has identified Isabel Morison (b. 20th September 1823 at Boghead Farm, Cairnie) as the heroine of this song. She gave birth to the illegitimate child of James Stephen on 16th June 1843, and the child was named after his father. 'Bogie' was Isabel's father, Alexander Morison (known by the name of his farm).
The song was possibly written by John Geddes, grieve at Boghead farm, Cairnie, in 1865. A related song called 'Adieu to Bogieside' (Roud Folk Song Index no. 4593) would appear to have been submitted to song-collectors of the early 20th century as a more literary version of this original song.
See:
Greig-Duncan vol. 7, pp. 223-231, no. 1396
'Come Gie's a Sang' (S. Douglas, 1995) pp. 86-87
'Folksongs of Britain & Ireland' (P. Kennedy, 1975) p. 766
'A Collection of Scots Songs' (A. Munro & H. Henderson, 1972) p. 15
'Till Doomsday in the Afternoon' (E. MacColl & P. Seeger, 1986) pp. 233-234
'Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland' (E. MacColl & P. Seeger, 1977) pp. 261-262
Item Subject/Person
Morison, Isabel; Morison, Alexander; Stephen, James
Recording Location
County - Banffshire
Parish - Aberlour
Village/Place - Craigellachie
Item Location
County - Aberdeenshire
Parish - Cairnie
Village/Place - Boghead Farm
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Fair