The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #3470   Message #471133
Posted By: toadfrog
26-May-01 - 07:52 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Green Grow the Rushes
Subject: RE: Green Grow the Rushes
This is interesting. I looked in Bodelian for the Wiltshire Wedding, and found, The Wiltshire Wedding between Daniel Do-well and Dolly the Milk-maid In Douce Ballads, beginning

All in a misty Morning, cloudy was the Weather.
I met with and old Man, was clothed all in Leather.
With a Shirt unto his Back, but Wool unto his Skin
With how do you do, and how do you do,
And how do you do agen?

The words are sufficiently different, so that it seems like this might be a different song. Maybe there is more than one Wiltshire Wedding? Or is this the folk process at work?

Bodelian also has a Green Grow the Rushes about a young woman going off to war with her lover, disguised as a man (old familiar theme).

Finally, Bodelian has the other Green Grows the Rushes, by Robert Burns. I had forgotten what a magnificent powm and song that was. But still, it is different.

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