701. Auchanachie Gordon (Child 239) - (Traditional Scottish)
This old Scottish ballad, collected by Francis James Child, is also known as "Anachie Gordon" or "Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie." It is a dramatic variation on the Romeo and Juliet story, complete with forced marriage and chilling descriptions of the abuse of parental power.
The best known version of this song in modern times is an arrangement of "Anachie Gordon", by English singer, Nic Jones, recorded in 1977. Most renditions since that time are basically covers of his version. It is interesting that Mary Black misheard the first word of Nic Jones' song and sang "Harking" instead of "Buchan", and several singers covering her version have repeated the error, which makes it easy to trace the recent history of the song. Other singers who have recorded the song include Loreena McKennitt (who copied Mary Black's error), Sinead O'Connor, Sharon Fountain and Cindy Mangsen (1991).
There appear to be a few glitches in the sound-track. Maybe it was a bit long for my iMovie program to handle.
For those who may have trouble following my (fake) Scottish accent, here are the lyrics:
Auchanachie Gordon is bonny and braw,
He would tempt any woman that ever him saw;
He would tempt any woman, sae has he tempted me,
And I'll die if I getna my love Auchanachie.
Buchan is bonny and there lives my love
My heart it lies on him, it will not remove
It will not remove for all ye say tae me.
Neer will I forget my love, Auchanachie.
In came her father, he's standing on the floor,
Says, "Jeanie, ye're trying the tricks o' a whore;
Ye're caring for them that cares little for thee;
Ye must marry Lord Salton, and leave Auchanachie.
"Auchanachie Gordon, he is but a man;
Altho he be pretty, where lies his free land?
Salton's lands they lie broad, his towrs they stand hie,
Ye must marry Lord Salton, and leave Auchanachie.
"Though he's bowed on the back and thrawin on the knee,
Lord Salton's a valley lies low by the sea;
Salton will gar ye silk gowns fring'd tae thy knee,
And ye'll neer wear that wi your love Auchanachie."
"Wi Auchanachie Gordon I would beg my bread
Before that wi Salton I'd wear gowd on my head,
Wear gowd on my head, or gowns fring'd tae the knee;
And I'll die if I getna my love Auchanachie.
"O you that are my parents tae church may me bring,
But untae Lord Salton I'll neer bear a son;
For son or for daughter, I'll ne'er bow my knee,
And I'll die if I getna my love Auchanachie."
When Jeanie was married, from church was brought hame,
When she wi her maidens sae merry shoud hae been,
When she wi her maidens sae merry shoud hae been,
She's gaen tae her chamber, tae weep there her lane.
"Come to your bed, Jeanie, my honey and my sweet,
For to stile you mistress I do not think it meet:"
"Mistress or Jeanie, it is a' ane tae me,
It's in your bed, Lord Salton, I never sall be."
Then oot spake her father, he spake wi reknown;
"A ye that are her maidens, ye'll loose aff her gown;
A' ye that are her maidens, ye'll loose aff her gown;
And I'll mend the marriage wi ten thousand crown."
You can watch a playlist of my renditions of the Child ballads:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B2D0D5657EA394E4
My website is here: raymondcrooke.com
Then a' of her maidens they loosed aff her gown,
But bonny Jeanie Gordon she fell in a swoon;
She fell in a swoon low doon by their knee;
Says, Look on, for I die for my love, Auchanachie!
That very same day Miss Jeanie did die,
And hame came Auchanachie, hame frae the sea;
Her father and mither welcom'd him at the gate;
He said, "Where's Miss Jeanie, that she's nae here yet?"
Then forth came her maidens, all wringing their hands,
Saying, Alas for your staying sae lang frae the land!
Sae lang frae the land, and sae lang on the fleed!
They've wedded your Jeanie, and noo she is deid.
"Some of you, her maidens, take me by the hand,
And show me the chamber Miss Jeanie died in;"
He kissed her cold lips, which were colder than stane,
And he died in the chamber that Jeanie died in.