Hi,

I'm not sure how to proceed with US versions of Child 204 Jamie Douglas. In his narrative to Jamie Douglas, Child gives the text of a an older song, Waly, Waly, Gin Love Be Bony (The Water is Wide) and shows the textual relationship between the two. As an appendix Child gives the text of Arthur's Seat Shall be my Bed, etc., or, Love In Despair.

Roud gives versions of Waly, Waly (The Water Is Wide) mixed with version of Jamie Douglas as does The Child Ballad Collection. The Traditional Ballad Index separates Jamie Douglas" and "Waly, Waly (The Water Is Wide)."

Should Waly, Waly (The Water Is Wide) be part of Jamie Douglas? If so, here are some related US songs:

"Waly Waly" "Wailie, Wailie" 1927 Sandburg
"Cockle Shells," "When Cockleshells Turn Silver Bells"
"I Wish I Was a Child Again" 1918 Sharp
"The Ripest of Apples" (ME) 1900
"The Water is Wide"
"Maggie Goddon"
"Must I Go Bound"
"O Love Is Teasin' " Jean Ritchie (KY) REC
"There is a Tavern in the Town," "Every Night When the Sun Goes In" (NC) 1918
"The Brisk Young Lover" (NC) Gentry
"Love Has Brought Me to Despair"
"My Blue-Eyed Boy" Hewitt (NE) 1905 Pound
"William Hall" English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, No. 171, version D . vol. II, p. 242.

Should they be part of the US versions? Most are melodically related as well.

Richie