Here, on the English Broadside Ballad Archive, is 'The Willow Green turned into White; Or, The Young mans Joy and the Maids Delight.'

I wonder if 'Catters could point me in the right direction with 2 questions, as I'd like to sing this?

It states, "Tune is, My Love sleeps on another mans Pillow. Or, The Willow Green." Another version of the broadside indicates this was a tune known from the theatre. I have been unable to track down this tune. I have trawled the web generally and found nothing in Playford's Dancing Master that might help. Here's verse one, in case the scansion helps:

WHat ails my Love to be so sad,
    why art thou troubled so in mind,
I am come now to make thee glad.
    to thee I will prove true and kind;
Then cast away sorrow and care,
    and be joyful as thou hast been,
Chear up thy heart and do not fear,
    thou shalt not wear the Willow Green.


I'd also like some help on the symbolism. Every verse ends with a reference to the willow green. The penultimate verse is:

At this the young man rejoyced greatly,
    to hear his Sweet-hearts kind Reply
He then imbraced her most neatly
    with kisses then so lovingly:
They went unto the Priest with speed
    in a brave mnner as e're was seen
Where as they Married was indeed,
    now he cast off the Willow Green.

And the last lines of the last verse are:

And there's an end of my new Song.
      call'd the Willow green turn'd into White.

I know that green willow or some other greenery was worn by both sexes as a sign of constancy when a love was absent, but I don't know which period of history people did this and if it's relevant here. Anyone know? Also why, symbolically, does it turn to white at the end of the song?

Any thoughts?

Stower