The Bonny Green Tree
Contributors
Fieldworkers
Date
January 1968
Track ID
99166
Part 1
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1967.141.B13
Original Tape ID
Summary
In this song a rich man encounters a poor young woman under a green tree. He asks her to marry him, offering her wealth and status. She believes her low degree would prevent her from being accepted by his family. He seduces her beneath the tree. The woman ends the song with a warning to young women to be aware of young men, saying all they want is to spoil your character, and that they will leave just as her love has done.
Item Notes
See:
'More Irish Street Ballads' (C. O'Lochlainn, 1978) pp. 20-21
'Sam Henry's Songs of the People' (G. Huntington, 1990) pp. 385-386
'Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland' (E. MacColl & P. Seeger, 1977) pp. 229-231
Language
English
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Fair