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The Banks of Inverurie

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1972.212

Original Tape ID

SA1972.212

Summary

A man meets a girl on the banks of Inverurie, but she spurns his advances, fearing that he will not be faithful. He admits that he has courted 12 maids on the banks, but says he will now be faithful. He blows his horn to summon 36 of his men, and calls a wedding, saying they will ride on horseback to the parson.

Charles Reid says his mother used to sing the song.

Item Notes

7 verses.

The text is virtually identical to that found in Ord's 'Bothy Songs and Ballads'(pp. 199-200). It also appears as a broadside from the Poet's Box, Dundee, published between 1880-1900 (shelfmark: RB.m.143(122)). Older broadsides give the name as 'The Banks of Inverary'; the earliest version in the Bodleian Library broadsides collection dates from 1780-1812 (shelfmark Firth c.18(47)).

Item Location

County - Aberdeenshire

Parish - Inverurie

Village/Place - Inverurie

Language

English

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R1415 GD1263

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good