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The Bonny Green Tree

Date January 1968
Track ID 99166
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1967.141.B13

Original Tape ID

SA1967.141

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

Song

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Fair