“The Gallant Grahams”

Description

"As I was crossing ower Boyne Water... For the killin' o' an English lord My gude braid sword they've ta'en frae me." The singer complains of being abandoned by the Grahams. He escapes and flees from his home in Carrickfergus

Notes

This is clearly related to "Hughie Grame"; about half the material in Ord's text, for instance, is standard in "Hughie." The perspective is different, though: The setting seems to be Ulster (where many Scots emigrated, both before and after Culloden). Only one girl would laments the hero's fate, and she makes no attempt to save him. The hero lives. And it is told in first person throughout.

Clearly the relation between the two songs needs more study. Without it, I follow standard Ballad Index policy and split the two. But my initial inclination was to lump; they have that much in common. - RBW

Cross references

  • cf. "Hughie Grame [Child 191]" (lyrics)

References

  1. Ord, pp. 441-442, "The Galland Grahams" (1 text)
  2. Roud #5618
  3. BI, Ord441

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1930 (Ord)
Found in: Britain(Scotland)