There's an interesting version here. The singer writes: The song "Buy Broom Besoms" is claimed by both the Scots and the Geordies. In the late 18th century, Blind Willie Purvis, a Fiddler in Newcastle-on-Tyne, made up many of the verses, naming various local people. Hannah Black was a "Fruiterer" on the quays, thus the verse about her Oranges which was Blind Willie's favorite Fruit. I learned the song from a recording by "The High Level Ranters". I wasn't around at the time but yes, songs from the Border region are often both Scottish and English. Robyn
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