The Bonnie Hoose o' Airlie
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1954.92.B1
Original Tape ID
Summary
In this ballad, the Earl of Argyll attacks Airlie Castle while Ogilvy (the Earl of Airlie) is away. Argyll demands that Lady Airlie come down and kiss him, threatening to destroy the castle if she refuses. She will not come down, and Argyll burns the castle. Ogilvy sees the smoke and discerns what has befallen.
Maggie Stewart learned the song from her gude-sister [sister-in-law], Jean.
Item Notes
6 verses of 4 lines; sung to the tune familiar as 'Loch Lomond', possibly deriving from a tune called 'Robin Cushie' or 'Kind Robin Lo'es Me', first published in McGibbon's 'Scots Tunes', Book 1, c. 1746.
The actual incident behind this song took place on 7th July 1640, when the Earl of Argyll, Archibald Campbell (1607-1661), destroyed Airlie Castle, belonging to James Ogilvie (1593-1666), the 1st Earl of Airlie. The two were on opposing sides of the conflict involving the National Covenant. Ogilvy had left with a force of men to aid Charles I, and the anti-royalist Campbell seized the opportunity to attack. Confusion surrounding the 'Charlie' referenced in the song has led to inclusions of verses linking the ballad with Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite conflict of 1745-46, including a last verse in which Cameron of Lochiel (an eminent Jacobite) swears revenge for the crime.
See:
Greig-Duncan vol. 2, pp. 170-175
'Tocher' 21 (1976) pp. 174-175
'Scottish Ballads' (E. Lyle, 1994) pp. 59-60
'Scottish Studies' 14 (1970) pp. 176-178
'Bothy Songs & Ballads' (J. Ord, 1930) p. 470
'Scotland Sings' (E. MacColl, 1953) pp. 18-19
'Come Gie's a Sang' (S. Douglas, 1995) pp. 12-13
'The Scottish Ballads' (R. Chambers, 1829) pp. 92-95
'Book of Scottish Song' (A. Whitelaw, 1845) pp. 545-546
'Ballads of Scotland' vol. 2 (W. E. Aytoun, 1858) pp. 265-268
'Vagabond Songs & Ballads' vol. 2 (R. Ford, 1901) pp. 167-169
'Traditional Ballad Airs' vol. 2 (W. Christie, 1881) pp. 276-277
'Ancient Scottish Ballads' (G. R. Kinloch, 1827) pp. 100-108, 273
'Till Doomsday in the Afternoon' (E. MacColl & P. Seeger, 1986) pp. 175-176
'Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads' (A. Keith & G. Greig, 1925) pp. 123-125
'Andrew Crawfurd's Collection of Ballads & Songs' vol. 1 (E. Lyle, 1975) p. 161
'Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland' (E. MacColl & P. Seeger, 1977) pp. 89-91
'Folk-Song of the North-East' (G. Greig, K. Goldstein & A. Argo, 1963 reprint) art. no. LVIII
Item Subject/Person
Campbell, Archibald (1st Marquess of Argyll); Ogilvy, James (1st Earl of Airlie)
Recording Location
County - Aberdeenshire
Parish - Aberdeen
Village/Place - Aberdeen
Item Location
County - Angus
Parish - Airlie
Village/Place - Airlie Castle
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good