The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #114653   Message #2449528
Posted By: Brian Peters
25-Sep-08 - 05:25 AM
Thread Name: Traditional singers altering songs?
Subject: RE: Traditional singers altering songs?
"Made all the boys ride saddle sore,
And her name was Barbara Allen..."

I recently came across a North American version of 'Lord Randal' in which the bequest to Randal's sister was not the usual "horse and saddle", but "mules and wagons". Another example of deliberate adaptation of an old song for a new environment, making it more familiar and 'homely'.