Origins: The Rowan Tree

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 01:41 AM

I'm surprised that "The Rowan Tree" is not in the Traditional Ballad Index, but it is Number 23799 in the Roud Index.

Here are the Digital Tradition lyrics.

ROWAN TREE
(Lady Carolina Nairn)

Oh rowan tree, oh rowan tree, thoul't aye be dear to me,
Entwin'd thou art wi' mony ties, o' hame and infancy.
Thy leaves were aye the first o' spring, thy flowr's the simmer's pride
There was nae sic a bonnie tree, in all the country side.
Oh rowan tree.

How fair wert thou in simmer time, wi' all thy clusters white.
Now rich and gay thy autumn dress, wi' berries red and bright.
On thy fair stem were mony names which now nae mair I see.
But there engraven on my heart, forgot they ne'er can be.
Oh rowan tree.

We sat aneath thy spreading shade, the bairnies round thee ran,
They pu'd thy bonnie berries red and necklaces they strang.
My mither, oh, I see her still, she smil'd our sports to see,
Wi' little Jeannie on her lap, wi' Jamie at her knee.
Oh rowan tree.

Oh, there arose my father's pray'r in holy evening's calm,
How sweet was then my mither's voice in the martyr's psalm
Now a' are gane! we met nae mair aneathe the rowan tree,
But hallowed thoughts around thee twine o' hame and infancy,
Oh rowan tree.

from Cole, Folksongs of England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales
from R.A. Smith's collection Scottish Minstrel, 1822
@Scottish @home @child @nostalgia
filename[ ROWANTRE
TUNE FILE: ROWANTRE
CLICK TO PLAY
SOF

Popup Midi Player

The Digital Tradition lyrics are an exact transcription of the lyrics from William Cole's Folksongs of England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales, which adds that a rowan is a European mountain ash.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 02:02 AM

I saw the movie Living this afternoon, and I really enjoyed it - one of the most thought-provoking movies I've seen in a long time. The main character, Mr. Williams (played by Bill Nighy), sang the song twice during the movie, and Lisa Knapp sang a wonderful rendition of the song during the closing credits.

Here's an article from the Sunday Post about the movie and the song:

https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/ishiguros-rowan-tree/

Here's the Lisa Knapp performance from the end of the movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27cNb6l-hnk

My favorite recording of the song is by Jean Redpath:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xi2GmlHzDw

Subject: ADD Version: The Rowan Tree
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 02:21 AM

Here's another version of the song, only slightly different. Instead of "martyr's psalm," this version has "martin psalm." I wonder if the word is supposed to be the "Matins" Psalm, which was chanted by monks in the hours before dawn.


THE ROWAN TREE

Oh! rowan tree! Oh! rowan tree! Thou’lt aye be dear to me,
Entwined thou art wi’ mony ties o’ hame and infancy.
Thy leaves were aye the first o’ spring, thy flooers the summer pride;
There were no sich a bonny tree oer a’ the countryside.
Oh! rowan tree !

How fair wert thou in summer time, thy leaves like clusters white.
How rich and rare thy autumn’s blooms, wi’ berries red and ripe.
On thy fair stem was mony a name, that noo nae mair I’ll see,
They’re still engrav-ed on my heart, forgot they ne’er can be!
Oh! Rowan tree!

[We sat aneath thy spreadin’ shade, The bairnies round thee ran,
They pu’d thy bonnie berries red, and necklaces they strang;
My mother, oh! I see her still, she smil’d our sports to see,
Wi’ little Jeannie on her lap, and Jamie at her knee.
Oh! Rowan tree!]

Then there arose my father’s prayers, in holy evenings calm
How sweet was then my mother’s voice, in the Martin psalm      [ Martyrs]
Now a’ is gone! we meet nae mair beneath the rowan tree.
But hallowed thoughts around thee twine o’ hame and infancy.
Oh! rowan tree!

Singer: John Hughson

Notes: A well known song composed in 1822 by Carolina Oliphant, also known as Lady Nairne (1766-1845). Her third verse is included though John does not sing it. He said he learned it from a gramophone record. (Roud no. 23799).

Source: http://www.sssa.llc.ed.ac.uk/whalsay/2014/12/11/rowan-tree-the/

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Reinhard
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 05:37 AM

The Rowan Tree seems to be Roud V1612 too.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 10:54 AM

Reading through the lyrics the "Matins" makes a lot more sense in the context.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 08:24 PM

It’s definitely Martyrs, sorry. It has been discussed in full in a previous thread here, which ran from 2001 to 2012.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: leeneia
Date: 12 Feb 23 - 05:50 PM

"aye" rhymes with high and means yes

"ay" rhymes with stay and means forever.

"Ay" should be used in this song.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 12 Feb 23 - 07:56 PM

Sorry, but again I beg to differ, being a Scot myself.
Aye and Ay are pronounced the same - as in high or eye, and can mean yes, or still, always, on every occasion. You can confirm this in the Scots National Dictionary as well as by listening to Scottish singers performing this song.
Ae, as in Robert Burns’ poem Ae Fond Kiss, is pronounced ay as in stay, but means “one”.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll
Date: 12 Feb 23 - 08:17 PM

Agree, Tattie! The spelling of many Scots words can vary, but in the main the pronounciation is what gives the meaning!
Aye meaning yes and aye meaning for a long time are pronounced
the same way, sounding like 'eye'
'Ae' sounds like 'hay' without the 'h'
Listen to Jean Redpath, a native of Fife, singing the song!!
(I vaguely think I might have heard someone, maybe in Brigadoon?!
saying 'yours for ay'........)

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Jim McLean
Date: 13 Feb 23 - 03:14 AM

There is a slight difference in on pronunciation of “aye” meaning “yes” and “aye” meaning always.
“Aye” meaning “yes” sounds like “sky” but “aye” meaning always” sounds like “fight”…….at least in Paisley.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Jim McLean
Date: 13 Feb 23 - 04:25 AM

Here’s an example of the sound I hear when with “aye” meaning “always”. The word “skite”, pronounced differently from “Skye”

Robin Jenkins illustrated the unpredictability of skiting in The Thistle and the Grail (1954):
“Don’t tell me he’s bald, for I don’t trust centre-forwards wi’ slippery heids, though, mind you, the goalie can never be sure what way the ball’s going to skite".

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 13 Feb 23 - 05:44 AM

I see what you mean Jim: in “skite” it is a shorter sound than in “Skye”, but it’s still not an a sound as in “stay”.
And aye, I have listened to Jean Redpath this morning: it would have caused major unrest to do so late last night!! She aye pronounces it eye!

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Jim McLean
Date: 13 Feb 23 - 02:01 PM

I’m not really concerned with the sound “day” as that’s obviously for ae or one. My point is that there is a difference in the sound for yes and always. When speaking it’s very obvious although some singers make the same sound.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Jim McLean
Date: 13 Feb 23 - 02:09 PM

Ay, ae as in day = one, as in “ae fond kiss”.
Aye as in Skye = yes, as in “aye, thanks”.
Aye, ayeways =as in sk(i)te, sh(i)te…….”I’ll aye be true…”

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 23 - 02:43 PM

Jim/Tattie,

Are you saying these pronunciations the same throughout Scotland?

Are there no local variations?

George

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Jim McLean
Date: 13 Feb 23 - 03:20 PM

Not necessarily, I specifically said I’m from Paisley and that’s the way I hear them. But only the sounds for yes and always are in contention.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 13 Feb 23 - 05:07 PM

hahahahaha!! (skite, shite -!!!!) Brilliant, Jim! xxx

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 13 Feb 23 - 05:20 PM

btw Jim - Robin Jenkins was teaching in Dunoon Grammar School when I started there in 1969 - and I just read that he had attended Hamilton Academy as a youngster - so did I, tho a fair number of years later!

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll
Date: 13 Feb 23 - 08:18 PM

I just realised something - if Robin Jenkins was a concientious objector, was sent to work in the forestry at Kilmun,
he must have known Tom Shanks, the amazing artist, who was there yoo?!Both men very creative,each in his own way.
I wonder who else might have been in that forestry squad, being inspired by the landscape and vegetation around them......

Subject: RE: Origins: The Rowan Tree
From: Jim McLean
Date: 14 Feb 23 - 04:17 AM

I was inspired by four walls in a small cell with a bed “hinged tae the wa “. Listen to my version of “The Big Mansion Hoose ca’d Barlinnie” by The Kerries.