Eileen McGann's version:

Notes --- "I first heard this Child Ballad (#65) way back when at Fiddler's Green Folk Club. There are many different versions and endings to this one, most of them rather unpleasant - either briefly or graphically so. In this telling, Susie shows the intrepidity common to young Scotswomen of legend and history, and gets the heck out of there."

There lived a lady in Scotland
Hey my love, ho my joy
There lived a lady in Scotland
So dearly she loved me
There lived a lady in Scotland
She fell in love with an Englishman
Bonnie Susie Cleland, she's to be burned at Dundee

The father to his daughter came
Hey my love...
The father to his daughter came
so dearly...
The father to his daughter came
Will you forsake this Englishman?
Bonnie Susie...

If you will not this man forsake...
Then I will burn you at the stake

Where may I find a bonny wee boy...
To carry tokens to my joy

Bring to him this right hand glove...
Tell him to find another love

Bring to him this wee pen knife....
Tell him to find another wife

Bring to him this gay gold ring...
Tell him I'm going to my burning

The father, he put up the stake....
Her brothers the fire did make

But when they went to bring her out...
Her brothers they let out a shout

The door was open, swinging wide...
And there was not a soul inside

The lady's flown, she'll not return...
She will not yield, she will not burn

(from Eileen McGann "Beyond the Storm"/ Dragonwing Music)

When Eileen performs this song at festivals, the whole crowd gets very involved with the story, sings along heartily, and feels quite relieved at the end to know that Susie has flown the coop, once again.

~b.w.

~b.w.