“Queen Mary (Auld Maid's Lament)”
Description
The girl (perhaps "Queen Mary") is of an age to be courting but has no suitors. She dresses well, and goes out when she can, but finds no takers. Her mother laments the girl's fate, as does the girl herself
Notes
The relationship between this piece and "Nae Bonnie Laddie tae Tak' Me Away (I)" is extremely vexed -- to the extent that it is impossible to tell which fragments go with which song. Frankly, I'd probably lump them if Roud didn't split them (and then, seemingly, mis-file some of the versions -- aided and abetted by Ford, who had two songs of this type). As a starting point, playparties and courting games go with this piece; full-fledged songs with the other. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Nae Bonnie Laddie tae Tak' Me Away (I)" (theme, lyrics)
References
- Greenleaf/Mansfield 62, "The Scotch Lassie" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
- Gardner/Chickering 46, "The New Dress" (1 fragment, which appears to be this but might be "Nae Bonnie Laddie...")
- DT, QUENMARY
- ADDITIONAL: Walter de la Mare, _Come Hither_, revised edition, 1928; note to #389, ("Queen Mary, Queen Mary, my age is sixteen") (1 short text)
- Roud #6281
- BI, HHH230