Search

The Bonnie Laddie's Lang A-growin

Date
Track ID 8284
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1953.241.A6

Original Tape ID

SA1953.241

Summary

Ewan MacColl believes this to be the best Scottish version of this song, and sings it to illustrate improvised ornamentation.

The girl reproaches her father for marrying her to a younger boy. He tells her that the boy will be a laird. She suggests sending the boy to school for a couple of years and says she will go with him in disguise. She makes him a silk shirt and weeps over it because he is so long growing. He was a husband at twelve, a father at thirteen and dead at fourteen.

Item Notes

9 verses. Recorded at The People's Festival.

See:
'The Scots Musical Museum' vol. 4 (J. Johnson) p. 390, no. 377 'Lady Mary Ann'

Recording Location

County - Midlothian

Parish - Edinburgh

Village/Place - Edinburgh

Language

Scots

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R31 GD1910 LO35 R5404 GD1222

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good