“Willie's Fatal Visit”

Description

Willie, having spent the night with Margaret, leaves before dawn because the cock crowed too soon. On the road he meets a ghost. Since he is a sinner and has not said a prayer for the road, the ghost tears him to shreds

Notes

This sounds almost like an "alternate ending" for "The Grey Cock, or, Saw You My Father" [Child 248]. Hugh Shields conjectured that that was an "alba song" (see the entry on Child 248 for explanation). This, however, seems to me almost closer to the form Shields describes. - RBW

Also collected and sung by Ellen Mitchell, "Willy's Fatal Visit" (on Kevin and Ellen Mitchell, "Have a Drop Mair," Musical Tradition Records MTCD315-6 CD (2001)) - BS

Cross references

• cf. "The Grey Cock, or, Saw You My Father" [Child 248] (plot)

Recordings

• Jeannie Robertson, "Willie's Fatal Visit (Willie's Fate)" (on FSB5, FSBBAL2) {Bronson's #2}

References

1. Child 255, "Willie's Fatal Visit" (1 text)
2. Bronson 255, "Willie's Fatal Visit" (2 versions)
3. Leach, pp. 623-625, "Willie's Fatal Visit" (1 text)
4. Roud #244
5. BI, C255