“Lang Johnny More”
Alternate titles:
“Long John, Old John, and Jackie North”
Author: unknown
Found in: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
Description
John More, on a visit to London, falls in love with the King's daughter. The King declares he will kill John, and takes him prisoner by drugging him. John sends a message begging help. Two giants come to rescue him, browbeating the King into surrender
Notes
Child views this as "perhaps an imitation, and in fact almost a parody, of 'Johnie Scot.'" Certainly the plots are very much alike -- but the supernatural feats of the rescuers are commonplaces (cf., e.g., "Hughie Grame" [Child 191]).
The surname "More/Moore" appears a distortion of Gaelic "Mor," "big." - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Johnie Scot" [Child 99]
Recordings
- John Strachan, "Lang Johnny More" (on FSB5, FSBBAL2) {Bronson's #8}
References
- Child 251, "Lang Johnny More" (1 text)
- Bronson 251, "Lang Johnny More" (15 versions)
- DBuchan 59, "Lang Johnny More" (1 text)
- DT 251, LONGJOHN
- Roud #3100
- BI, C251
The Traditional Ballad Index is copyright ©2008
by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.
The Digital Tradition is copyright The Mudcat Cafe.