The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #145512 Message #3385807
Posted By: Steve Gardham
03-Aug-12 - 06:14 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Child Ballads: US Versions Part 3
Subject: RE: Origins: Child Ballads: US Versions Part 3
The song you're after is an obvious rewrite with a totally different twist which has presumably been rewritten deliberately in this way for some reason. All of the earlier versions including continental ones are based around the maiden's trickery which is the main motif. It is based on Child D as is the Pills version on the same page. Whilst this song has been rewritten many times all versions retain the main motif, the whole point of the song. I'd guess this is a relatively modern rewrite.