The Twa Brithers
Contributors
Fieldworkers
Date
1957
Track ID
34220
Part 1
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1957.44.B2
Original Tape ID
Summary
Two brothers coming home from school decide to have a wrestling match. A knife falls from William's pocket, fatally stabbing John. John asks William to carry him to the well to wash the wound, but to no avail. William tears his shirt to bandage the wound but it still bleeds. John asks William to carry him to the churchyard, dig a grave and bury him, with arrows at his head, his bow at his feet, and his sword and shield by his side.
Jeannie Robertson had the song from her husband, Donald Higgins.
Item Notes
9 verses. Fratricide ballad. In this version the death is clearly accidental and no step-parent is implicated.
Language
English, Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good