“The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea”

Description

The young man, driven by "curiosity," roams the world. In Ireland he falls in love with a girl at first sight. He gains her father's approval by saying that he is rich. The two are married, and the American lad settles down on the banks of the Lea

Cross references

• cf. "Miss Green" (tune)

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Firth b.26(498), "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea," G. Walker (Durham), 1797-1834; also Harding B 11(2224), Firth c.18(95), Harding B 11(1426), Firth c.18(86), Firth b.27(321), Johnson Ballads 1227, Johnson Ballads 1400, Harding B 11(1423), Harding B 11(1424), Harding B 11(1427), Harding B 11(1429), Harding B 11(1425), Harding B 11(1640), Firth b.26(65), Harding B 11(4030), Harding B 11(1430), Firth b.25(300), Johnson Ballads 341, "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea"; Harding B 26(232), Harding B 26(231), "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lee"

Recordings

• Anita Best and Pamela Morgan, "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lee" (on NFABestPMorgan01)
• Tony Wales, "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea" (on TWales1)

References

1. Laws O15, "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea"
2. OLochlainn-More 98, "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lee" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. FSCatskills 31, "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Gardner/Chickering 70, "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea" (1 text, short and full of odd distortions, e.g. the girl is "beautified" rather than "beautiful")
5. Peacock, pp. 523-524, "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea" (1 text, 1 tune); p. 600, "The Sweet Mossy Banks of the Wey" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Leach-Labrador 24, "American Stranger" (1 text, 1 tune)
7. Lehr/Best 47, "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. Mackenzie 47, "Green Mossy Banks of the Lea" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. DT 477, MOSSYLEA MOSSYLE2
10. Roud #987
11. BI, LO15