“Geordie's Courtship (I Wad Rather a Garret)”

Description

"A maid of vain glory, with grandeur and pride Was asked by a ploughman for to be his bride." She rejects him, saying she would prefer to be hanged. He lists his assets. She still scorns him. He concludes, "I swear you shall never get me for a man."

Notes

That this is a composed song is beyond doubt. My only hesitation in attributing it to Milne is the diversity of the forms found in tradition; nearly every collection has a different title and even some difference in form. It's hard to imagine that much variation arising in the few decades between Milne's publication and the early collections.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this were inspired by "The Courting Case" or something similar. - RBW

Cross references

References

  1. Ord, pp. 204-205, "Geordie Asking Miss Tiptoe in Marriage" (1 text)
  2. Roud #5067
  3. BI, Ord204B

About

Alternate titles: “Plooman Geordie”
Author: probably John Milne
Earliest date: 1871 (Milne's Selection of Songs and Poems)
Found in: Britain(Scotland)