The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #2241   Message #1825764
Posted By: Joe Offer
03-Sep-06 - 04:05 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The Greenwood Laddie
Subject: DT Correction: The Greenwood Laddie
Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:

Greenwood Laddie, The

DESCRIPTION: Singer describes the beauty of her greenwood laddie. Her parents oppose the match because he has no riches, but she says "the more that they slight you, the more I'll invite you". She would still cherish him if she had the gold of the Indies or of Africa.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1952 (recorded from Charles Boyle)
KEYWORDS: love beauty gold money lyric nonballad lover father mother
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Kennedy 130, "The Greenwood Laddie" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #2123
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Banks of the Bann (I)" [Laws O2] (lyrics)
Notes: In 1909 Joyce collected "The Greenwood Lad," but only the tune, and without seeing it I won't cite it as Earliest Date. This is similar in tone to "Banks of the Bann," and even shares a verse, but it's otherwise different enough that I split them without question. - PJS
Kennedy speculates that this might be somehow connected with a Gaelic song, and that the youth's "green-ness" might have political significance. Which strikes me as a rather forced interpretation. - RBW
File: K130

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The version in the Digital Tradition is from Kennedy, Folksongs of Britain and Ireland. It's a pretty good transcription, but there are a couple of OCR errors. Here's a corrected text:
THE GREENWOOD LADDIE

If you had seen my dearest, and his eyes shine the clearest
His cheeks like the red blood that's new-dropped in snow
He is neat, tall and slender, and his hands soft and tender
He'll be my greenwood laddie wherever he go.

My parents, my darling, they slight you with scorn
Because you have no riches wrapped up in store.
But the more that they slight you, the more I'll invite you
To be my greenwood laddie, till time is no more.

For if I had the wealth of the East or West Indies
Or I had the gold of the African shore,
Or if I could gain thousands I'd lie on your bosom
You'd be my greenwood laddie whom I'll always adore.

It's down yonder bower I've spent many's the long hour
A-pulling the flowers by yon clear winding shore;
It was his stolen kisses caused my fondest wishes
He'll be my greenwood laddie and the boy I adore.

From Folksongs of Britain and Ireland, Kennedy

@love
filename[ GRNWDLAD
TUNE FILE: GRNWDLAD
CLICK TO PLAY
RG
apr00


I can't get the MIDI to work, but the downloadable version of the Digital Tradition has it. I can post a tune from Kennedy if somebody needs it.