“John of Hazelgreen”

Description

A lady is weeping for John of Hazelgreen, whom she is not permitted to marry. She is offered marriage to another; this is little to her liking. By some means or other she meets Hazelgreen, and they are married

Notes

Rewritten by Sir Walter Scott as "Jock o Hazeldean" -- a poem which has become perhaps more popular than the original ballad, and which is included in many poetic works (e.g. it is item CCXXVII in Palgrave's _Golden Treasury_).

Scholars since Child have debated the extent to which the Scott text (said to take only a single stanza from the traditional song) is influenced or has influenced tradition. One thing appears certain: The Scott text and some of the traditional versions are related (e.g. Davis's "J" is about 85% identical to the corresponding stanzas of Scott's text). Either the Scott text used more than the single stanza claimed, or his text has influenced tradition. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Nancy Dawson" (plot)

References

1. Child 293, "John of Hazelgreen" (5 texts)
2. Bronson 293, "John of Hazelgreen" (29 versions)
3. SharpAp 43, "John of Hazelgreen" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #5a}
4. BarryEckstormSmyth pp. 369-371, "Willie of Hazel Green" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #27}
5. Flanders/Olney, pp. 237-238, "Young Johnny of Hazelgreen" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #25}
6. Flanders-Ancient4, pp. 281-284, "John of Hazelgreen" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #25}
7. Davis-Ballads 49, "John of Hazelgreen" (7 texts plus 2 fragments; the J text appears to have print influence; 3 tunes entitled "John o' the Hazelgreen," "John of Hazelgreen"; 1 more version mentioned in Appendix A) {Bronson's #3, #26, #2}
8. Davis-More 45, pp. 350-355, "John of Hazelgreen" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 225-227, "John of Hazelgreen" (2 short texts, with local titles "John over the Hazel Green"; 2 tunes on pp. 415-416) {Bronson's #8, #7}
10. Peacock, pp. 537-538, "Johnny from Hazelgreen" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. Leach, pp. 674-678, "John of Hazelgreen" (3 texts)
12. Friedman, p. 143, "John of Hazelgreen" (1 text)
13. McNeil-SFB1, pp. 91-92, "John of Hazelgreen" (1 text, 1 tune)
14. Niles 63, "John of Hazelgreen" (1 text, 1 tune)
15. Abrahams/Foss, pp. 95-96, "John of Hazelgreen" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #9}
16. DT 293, JOCKHZLD* JOCKHZL2*
17. Roud #250
18. BI, C293