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Fair Annie (Child 62)

from Blood & Roses Volume 1 by Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger

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about

Despite the fact that most of the American versions are abridged. this ballad comes through as one of the most moving examples of the "patient Griselda" story. My set, from West Virginia, is the longest so far published in the United States.

The ballad runs, as Bronson puts it, "back Into the mists, through Scandinavian and German analogues" to (and perhaps past) Le de Freisne, the earliest recorded version of the tale (ca. 1180), hut does not appear in the Scots repertory until the late 1700's. The Scots texts are extraordinary. They bring the characters alive with brilliant touches of description and dialogue. /n some versions, for instance the new bride is quite harsh toward Annie, proposing that she be driven out into the woods. In others, it is suggested that Thomas should hang for his treatment of Annie. Or, occasionally, his callousness may suddenly shift to incredible love:

Rise up, rise up, my Wanly bride,
I think my bed's but cold;
I wouldna hear my lady lament
For your tocher ten times told. (dowry)

The ballad is full of Freudian symbolism, es in the 3 verses in which Annie balances herself as predator against her seven sons. The ballad is packed with old beliefs and customs. Annie must comb down her hair then braid it up into a crown, for only maidens wore their hair flowing. Annie's identity is revealed in a myriad of ways: through a broken-token exchanged with her sibling, through Annie's playing of harp and virginals, through her actually singing her own story outside the bridal chamber.

Considering that the Scots texts are so rich, so observant of human behaviour, it is massing that the ballad is scarcely ever encountered in Scotland among either field or revival singers. Indeed, it nos not been popular in the United States, although the few texts that have been recovered are spread well over the country. The ballad has adapted well in America. The Injuns (not Lord Thomas) steal Annie away; the banjo is used; Annie comes out onto her front porch, employing a spyglass to see the ship; or

Your hogshead hoops are a-bursting off,
And your wine is running out.

The ballad clearly has enormous appeal. It is nearly eleven minutes long, yet it Is short in the performance situation, as bated breath gives background to the voice, the poetry, the symbiosis of singer and listener, as they recreate together, once more, this seemingly improbable love-tale.

lyrics

The Injuns stole fair Annie away
As she walked by the see;
Lord Thomas for her a ransom paid
In gold and silver fee.

Then he took her, O, to be his dear,
No one knew from whence she came.
She lived in a mansion house with him,
Never told him her name.

Make your bed so narrow, Annie,
And learn to lie, to lie alone;
For I'm going over the far ocean
To bring a new, a young bride home.

I'm going over the far ocean,
To bring a new, a young bride home;
With her I can get lands and slaves,
With you I did get none.

But who will make my wedding feast?
Who will pour the red, red wine?
Who will welcome in my young bride?
She's the darling love of mine.

I will make your wedding feast,
I will pour the red, red wine;
I will welcome in your new bride,
You're the darling love of mine.

No, the one that welcomes my young bride
Must look a maid, a maiden fair,
With lace all around her waist so small,
And the flowers all among her hair.

Come down your hair, your yellow hair,
Then comb it back unto a crown,
That you may look so fair a maid
As when first I brought you home.

How can I look so fair a maid,
When a maid, a maiden I am none?
Have I not borne to you six fair sons,
And I am with child again.

He's hung a towel on the back of the door,
A silken towel on a silver pin;
Fair Annie, you may wipe your eyes
As you work out and in.

When a year was over and past and gone,
Fair Annie thought the time was long,
When there she seen Lord Thomas' ship,
Bringing his bridal home.

She took her baby in her arms,
And her little son by the hand;
Out on her front porch she's gone,
For to see how the ship do land.

Come down, come down, my mother dear,
Come down, come down from the porch so tall;
I fear if longer you stand and cry.
You'll make yourself to fall.

So she took her baby on her hip,
And her little son by the hand;
And the other five they come a-following along,
For to see their father land.

"You're welcome, welcome, Lord Thomas," she said,
"To your mansion and your farm;
"Welcome, welcome, you fair young bride,
"For all that's here is yours,"

Who is that lady, my good lord,
She welcomes fairly you and me?
That ain't nothing but my housekeeper,
Your friend she's going to be.

Fair Annie served them all the whole day long,
She smiled sweetly upon them all;
But when her sons took them toasts all round,
Down the tears did fall.

When the wedding was over and the feast all gone,
And all them guests bound for bed,
When the groom and the bonnie bride,
In the one bed they were laid.

Fair Annie took a banjo in her hand
For to play them two to sleep;
But ever as she played and sang,
Ever did she weep.

O, but if my sons was seven grey rats
Running on the milkhouse wall -
I myself to be a big tom-cat,
I soon would worry them all.

But if my sons was seven grey wolves,
Running in the brushy hill -
I myself to be a good hound dog,
I soon would chase my fill.

But if my sons was seven buck deer,
All drinking at the old salt-lick -
I would be a good shotsman,
I soon would see them kick.

Then upspoke the new young bride,
From the bride-bed wherein she lay:
"Who is that so sadly sing?
"Who is that so sweetly play?"

What is it ails you, housekeeper?
Why do I hear such grief from thee?
Have you lost them keys from all about your waist?
Is your wedding feast all gone?

No, it ain't because my keys are lost,
Nor it ain't because my feast is gone;
I have lost my own true love,
He's married another one.

"Come in here,"said the new, young bride,
"Dear Annie, sit you down by me;
"Tell to me your father's name, dear,
"And I'll tell mine to thee."

The Lord of Salter was my father,
The Lady of Salter my mother dear,
Sweet Susan was my own sister,
Lord James my brother, too.

If the Lord of Salter is your father,
It's O, I know he is mine;
And you are O, my sister Annie,
And my true love is thine.

But take your husband, Annie dear,
For you been never wronged by me;
No more than a kiss from his own sweet lips
As we come over the sea.

I brought six ships, six bonnie ships,
Loaded with dowry to the brim;
Five of them I'll leave with you,
And the last gonna carry me home again.

credits

from Blood & Roses Volume 1, released September 12, 1979
Peggy Seeger - vocals

Produced by Neill MacColl
Engineered by Nikki Cohen & Nigel Sharpe
Recorded at Pathway Studios, London

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Ewan MacColl London, UK

This site is maintained by the MacColl family, aiming to make Ewan's catalogue available to download.
Ewan MacColl is known to most as a songwriter and singer, but he was also of significant influence in the worlds of theatre and radio broadcasting. His art reached huge numbers through the folk clubs, greater numbers through his recordings and untold millions through the radio. ... more

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