The Rigs o Rye
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1968.303.A6
Original Tape ID
Summary
In this lover's 'test' or 'trick' song, two lovers are heard in a rye field speaking about their relationship. The lad says he must go away, but needs to talk to her beforehand [presumably to convince her to go with him]. He says her parents take good care of her, but her sisters say she will not get any share [inheritance] if she goes with him, a stranger. She disowns her family, saying she would go with him nonetheless. He dries her tears, proclaiming that he had said such things to test her love. They go off on the road together, and get married. They have two children, and live in Brechin during winter, and in Montrose in summer.
Item Notes
7 verses, with guitar accompaniment. This is a fairly standard 'Folk Revival' version of this well-known song.
Broadside version published at Poet's Box, Overgate, Dundee c. 1880-1900. In National Library of Scotland broadsides collection, [[http://www.nls.uk/broadsides/broadside.cfm/id/16417]] (accessed 7 January 2009).
See:
Greig-Duncan vol. 5, pp. 499-517, no. 1054
Recording Location
County - Inverness-shire
Island - Skye
Parish - Portree
Village/Place - Braes
Item Location
County - Angus
Language
English, Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good