The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #621   Message #671107
Posted By: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
18-Mar-02 - 12:35 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Anathea (from Judy Collins)
Subject: RE: Lyrics for Anathea stole a stallion
There are similarities to all of these.
Laszlo Feher-Annathea-
Man stole animal(s)
Man bound in chains
Man sentenced to hang
Maid rides to save him
Judge wants (gets) sexual favors
Man is hanged.

Child 95-
Maid (or man) stole silver cup (or crime not specified)
Maid (or man) sentenced to hang
Relatives won't help
Lover antes up and prisoner set free.
(A prickly bush or briery used in a chorus)

Child 209- (C versions)
Man stole animal(s)
Man may or may not be chained
Maid brings gold to save her lover
Her man confesses or he was already condemmed
Lawyer (or judge) says he has condemmed himself or been condemmed
Man is hanged.
(Main versions of 209 group concern a killing in battle)
The many variants make these songs difficult to classify, but the actions of relatives in Child 95, to me, sets that group apart. On the other hand, the venal judge sets Laszlo Feher-Annathea group apart. Admittedly, I am not a student of these songs, but I see more correlation in basic story between the "Hungarian" story and some of Child 209 versions.
So far, no history of the Hungarian song has been cited.