Willie o Winsbury

Willie O Winsbury is Child Ballad #100, existing in several variants. [Francis James Child, "English and Scottish Popular Ballads", [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch100.htm "Willie o Winesberry"] ] It is a traditional Scottish ballad that dates from at least 1775, and is known under a number of different names, including "Lord Thomas of Winesberry."

ynopsis

A king is away for a long time. His daughter becomes pregnant by the hero, William or Thomas. The king threatens to hang him, but is struck by his beauty and offers him the heroine and gold. The hero accepts the lady but declares that he has both gold and lands enough of his own.

Commentary

This ballad closely parallels Child ballad 99, "Johnie Scot". [Francis James Child, "The English and Scottish Popular Ballads", v 2, p 377, Dover Publications, New York 1965] .

In one variants, the lands are specifically described: he will be king when he returns to Scotland. It may, in fact, be based on James V's courtship of and marriage to Madeleine de Valois of France; James came to see the woman he was betrothed to in disguise, and went on to meet the princess, who fell in love with him. [Francis James Child, "The English and Scottish Popular Ballads", v 2, p 398-9, Dover Publications, New York 1965]

Nowadays the song is often sung to the tune of Fause Foodrage, rather than its own traditional tune.

Recordings

This song was recorded by Sweeney's Men on their debut album Sweeney's Men (album) in 1968. Andy Irvine performs the vocal on the track.

Anne Briggs recorded this song in 1971, accompanied by Johnny Moynihan, for her album "Anne Briggs".

The song was recorded by Pentangle in 1972, on their album Solomon's Seal.

The Great Big Sea song "John Barbour", on their Something Beautiful* CD, is based on this ballad.

The Song "Farewell Farewell" recorded by Fairport Convention on Liege and Lief is actually new lyrics (written by Richard Thompson) set to the Fause Foodrage tune now commonly used for Willie O Winsbury. A recording of Willie O Winsbury played and sung by Thompson was included in his compilation boxset "RT".

Maps sampled the Sweeney's Men version on their song "To The Sky", from their album We Can Create

Meg Baird of Espers recorded the song for her 2007 album "Dear Companion." [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/42834/meg-baird-dear-companion/ Meg Baird: Dear Companion - PopMatters Music Review ] ]

This song was sung by Connie Dover and is found on her album The Wishing Well.

References

External links

* [http://www.contemplator.com/child/winebery.html Willie O Winsbury]