Willie's Fate
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1962.74.B11
Original Tape ID
Summary
In this ballad, Willie encounters the ghost of his former sweetheart, who exacts revenge for his taking a new lover. She tears him from gusset to gusset and leaves a share of him on either side of Mary Stile.
The melody is shared with Jeannie Robertson's version of 'Clyde's Water': she remarks on a similar lyric in both ballads.
Item Notes
7 verses of 4 lines. 'Clyde's Water' is sung on the next track on the same tape (SA1962.074).
See:
'Ballad Book' (M. Leach, 1955) pp. 623-625
'Ancient Ballads and Songs' vol. 2 (P. Buchan, 1828) pp. 259-262
'Traditional Ballad Airs' vol. 1 (W. Christie, 1876) pp. 218-219
'Jeannie Robertson: Emergent Singer, Transformative Voice' (J. Porter & H. Gower, 1995) pp. 251-252
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Fair