The Forester
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1970.22.A1
Original Tape ID
Summary
In this ballad, a forester in the service of the king takes advantage of a shepherd's daughter, but refuses to name himself properly. When she deduces his name, he rides off, expecting to evade her. She pursues him to the king's castle. When the king commands the forester to marry the woman, he laments at having to marry a shepherd's daughter; she reveals that she is in fact the Lord of Ury's daughter, in contrast to the forester, who is only the son of a blacksmith.
Lizzie Higgins learned this song from her grandmother.
Item Notes
12 verses of 4 lines with vocable refrain of 2 lines. Sung to the tune of 'The Battle o Harlaw' (Child 163; Roud Folk Song Index no. 2861).
See:
Greig-Duncan vol. 7, pp. 349-356, no. 1465
'Tocher' 36/37 (1981-1982) pp. 424-426
'Scottish Ballads' (E. Lyle, 1994) pp. 155-159
'Traditional Tunes' (F. Kidson, 1891) pp. 19-21
'Scottish Ballad Book' (N. Buchan, 1973) pp. 111-118
'The Scottish Folksinger' (Buchan & Hall, 1973) pp. 42-43
'Ancient Scottish Ballads' (G. R. Kinloch, 1827) pp. 13-30
'Traditional Ballad Airs' vol. 1 (W. Christie, 1876) pp. 184-185
'Ancient Ballads and Songs' vol. 2 (P. Buchan, 1828) pp. 77-78, 87-98
'Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads' (A. Keith & G. Greig, 1925) pp. 87-90
'Andrew Crawfurd's Collection of Ballads & Songs' vol. 2 (E. Lyle, 1996) pp. 43-44
Recording Location
County - Aberdeenshire
Parish - Aberdeen
Village/Place - Aberdeen
Language
Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good