The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #15673   Message #1112501
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
09-Feb-04 - 09:38 AM
Thread Name: Origin: Queen of Hearts (Tim O'Brien)
Subject: RE: Queen of Hearts? Any info on this song?
Number 3195 in the Roud Folk Song Index. It appears that Baring-Gould's example is the only one ever found in oral currency, and that all revival recordings are arrangements of it.

The Northern Lass is a 17th century tune, and it's easy to see why Baring-Gould would place the Queen of Hearts melody in the same period. There ought really to be broadside or songsheet editions prior to the 19th century examples, but I don't know of any.