“Bonnie Mally Stewart”

Description

"The cold winter is past and gone, And now comes on the spring, And I am one of the King's Life-Guards, And must go fight for my king, my dear, And must go fight...." She offers to go with him. When he leaves, she follows; (when they meet, he denies her)

Notes

This song ends with a verse also associated with Burns's "It Was A' for Our Rightfu' King," and follows the same metrical pattern. Ford thinks it the source of the Burns song, and this is certainly possible -- except that this song, which also looks composed, is not attested until the nineteenth century, and in broadsides. - RBW

Cross references

  • cf. "It Was A' for Our Rightfu' King" (lyrics)

References

  1. Ford-Vagabond, pp. 174-175, "Bonnie Mally Stewart" (1 text)
  2. Roud #5789
  3. BI, FVS174

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1904 (Ford)
Found in: Britain(Scotland)