The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #106925   Message #2212884
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
11-Dec-07 - 02:22 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The Bonnie Lad that Handles the Ploo
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bonnie Lad
It appears to be the set printed in Ord, Bothy Songs and Ballads, 1930, 81: 'The Bonnie Lad that Handles the Plough'. Some spellings have been altered, so perhaps it was learned from Ewan MacColl's re-printing of it in Scotland Sings. Ord didn't mention where he got it, but noted 'The first four lines are always repeated at the end of each verse as a chorus.'

It was in Jimmy MacBeath's repertoire, and there are several versions in The Greig-Duncan Collection III, but I don't have that volume.