“Braes of Strathblane”

Description

Singer meets a girl. He wants to marry her; she says her parents would be displeased if she married a rover. He'll go court another. She begs him to come back; she's changed her mind. She regrets slighting him, fearing she'll never find another

Long description

Singer meets a young girl, bleaching her clothes. He tells her he's been wanting to marry her for the past year; she tells him to hold his tongue, as her parents would be displeased if she married a rover. He tells her the clouds are heavy, and he fears it will rain, so he'll go court another. She tells him to come back, for she's changed her mind. But he leaves, and she regrets slighting him, fearing she'll never find another man

Notes

Commentary to broadside NLScotland L.C.Fol.178.A.2(063): "This song, indeed, an identical match to the lyrics of 'The Braes of Strathdon', which lies in Aberdeenshire. On other broadsides the suggested to tune to these lyrics is often 'As I stood at my cottage door'." - BS

Cross references

• cf. "The Rejected Lover" [Laws P10] and references there
• cf. "The Chippewa Girl" [Laws H10] (words, theme)
• cf. "As I Stood At My Cottage Door" (tune, see notes for broadside NLScotland L.C.Fol.178.A.2(063))

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Harding B 26(73), "The Braes of Strathblane," unknown, n.d.; also Firth c.26(240), "The Braes of Strathblane"
• Murray, Mu23-y1:044, "The Braes of Strathalbene," James Lindsay Jr. (Glasgow), 19C
• NLScotland, L.C.Fol.178.A.2(063) "The Braes of Strathblane," unknown, n.d.

Recordings

• NLScotland, L.C.Fol.178.A.2(063), "The Braes of Strathblane," unknown, c.1850

References

1. Ford-Vagabond, pp. 77-78, "The Braes o' Strathblane" (1 text)
2. Ord, p. 125, "The Braes o' Strathblane" (1 text)
3. MacSeegTrav 53, "The Braes of Strathblane" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Peacock, pp. 499-500, "The Beach of Strablane" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Karpeles-Newfoundland 61, "The Bleaches So Green" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Creighton-SNewBrunswick 45, "Just As I Was Going Away" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
7. Manny/Wilson 60, "The Braes of Strathblaine" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. Roud #1096
9. BI, McCST053