The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #21179 Message #908812
Posted By: Boab
13-Mar-03 - 01:38 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Peggy Gordon
Subject: RE: Peggy Gordon: Origin
First time I ever heard "Peggy Gordon" sung was in a folk club in Northumberland England 'way back in 1965. The lads who sang and played stated its origins as Robert Burns; but being something of a "Burnsian",I cast my doubts. I haven't come across anything which would lead me to change my mind on that. I was surprised, frankly, to find so many references to the song in the Americas. That it may have its origins here never entered my mind.I have been prepared to accept that it could be a Scots song, but to me it has the "feel" of Irish
origin. "it was my fancy, I do declare" doesn't come across as Scots usage---but has a very definite suggestion of Irish, or even English language structure. No matter where it's from, it's a grand wee song---and I was singing it yesterday, just me an' the squeezebox!