Lang Johnny More

Original Track ID

SA1956.45.A13

Original Tape ID

SA1956.045

Summary

Recited fragment (opening verse) of the ballad 'Lang Johnny More':

There's braw lads in Auchindoon and braw in Auchindore
But the bonniest lad that e'er I saw was Lang Johnny More.

Item Notes

Opening verse only. In complete versions of this long ballad, Lang Johnny More goes to London to enter the service of the King, but is only there a matter of weeks when the King's daughter falls in love with him. On learning of the love between his daughter and Johnny More, the King sentences the young Scot to death. Johnny manages to get word to his uncle in Bennachie, who is a giant also called Johnny More. He travels to London with another giant, Jock o Noth, and the two force their way into the prison and rescue young Johnny. They then threaten the King into releasing his own daughter, and the two giants and the lovers leave London for Scotland.

See:
Greig-Duncan vol. 2, pp. 209-219
'Scottish Ballads' (E. Lyle, 1994) pp. 188-195
'Scottish Ballad Book' (N. Buchan, 1973) pp. 169-174

Item Subject/Person

Lang Johnny More [More, Johnny]

Recording Location

Language

Scots

Genre

Song

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R3100 GD246 C251

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good