The Unfortunate Rake
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1960.178.B18
Original Tape ID
Summary
In this song, a soldier has contracted a fatal disease after consorting with flash girls [prostitutes], and is soon found dead. He is given a military funeral, with his tombstone carrying a warning to young men never to do as he did.
Item Notes
3 verses of 4 lines, except verse 3 with 6 lines. Recorded at Aikey Fair.
This song spawned a whole family of related songs including 'The Streets of Laredo', 'The Dying Cowboy' and 'St. James Hospital'.
See:
Greig-Duncan vol. 7, pp. 252-254, no. 1404
'Everyman's Book of British Ballads' (R. Palmer, 1980) pp. 148-149
Murray Collection (Broadsides), Glasgow University Library, Mu23-y4:039
'Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland' (E. MacColl & P. Seeger, 1977) pp. 336-339
Recording Location
County - Aberdeenshire
Parish - Old Deer
Village/Place - Aikey Brae
Language
English
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Fair