“The Wind Blew the Bonnie Lass's Plaidie Awa'”

Description

Young woman goes to the butcher to buy beef, but he takes her in his arms, down they fall, and the wind blows her plaidie away. Three months later, her waist swells. The neighbors are upset; she blames the beef. (He marries her.)

Long description

Young woman goes to the butcher to buy beef, but he takes her in his arms, down they fall, and the wind blows her plaidie away, not to be found. (He promises to pay for it.) Three months later, her waist swells; she says his beef is tough to chew. The neighbors are upset; she blames the beef. (He marries her, saying, "We shall hae the middle cut, it's tenderest of a'.")

Notes

It appears that several versions of this have been bowdlerized. The extent of the damage is not entirely clear. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "The White Cockade" (tune)

Broadsides

• Murray, Mu23-y4:029, "The Wind Blew the Plaidie Awa'," John Ross (Newcastle), 19C
• NLScotland, RB.m.143(126), "The Bonnie Lassie's Plaidie," Poet's Box (Dundee), n.d.

Recordings

• Jimmy McBeath, Duncan Burke [instrumental], Jeannie Robertson [composite] "The Wind Blew the Bonny Lassie's Plaidie Awa'" (on FSB2, FSB2CD)
• Jimmy McBeath, "The Wind Blew the Lassie's Plaidie Awa'" (on Voice10)

References

1. Ford-Vagabond, pp. 75-76, "The Plaidie Away" (1 text)
2. Ord, pp. 96-97, "The Wind Blew the Bonnie Lass's Plaidie Awa'" (1 text)
3. Roud #2574
4. BI, RcWBTBLP