“Jellon Grame”

Description

(Jellon Grame) murders the woman he claims to love (because she carries his child and he fears discovery/because she loves another whose child she carries). (He/her sister) raises the boy. He later reveals the murder to the boy, who kills him.

Notes

Davis seems to have no doubts about the authenticity of his text, the lone representative outside Scotland of a ballad with only the weakest roots in tradition even there -- this even though, as he himself admits, it has a surprising similarity to Child A. Well, if he won't question it, I will. I'm not saying it's a fake -- but I wouldn't be surprised if it were influenced by print. - RBW

Cross references

References

  1. Child 90, "Jellon Grame" (4 texts)
  2. Bronson 90, "Jellon Grame" (1 version)
  3. Davis-More 27, pp. 207-213, "Jellon Grame" (1 text)
  4. Leach, pp. 284-286, "Jellon Grame" (1 text)
  5. OBB 49, "Jellon Grame" (1 text)
  6. PBB 55, "Jellon Grame" (1 text)
  7. DT 90, JELGRAEM
  8. Roud #58
  9. BI, C090

About

Alternate titles: “Jellon Graeme”
Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1802 (Scott)
Found in: Britain(Scotland(Aber)) US(SE)