The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #10547   Message #73578
Posted By: Bruce O.
26-Apr-99 - 05:40 PM
Thread Name: Gypsy Rover a real folk song?
Subject: RE: Gypsy Rover a real folk song
Scots: Said to be a ballad about Lady Cassillis and John Fa in 1643, while the Earl of Cassilis was away at a Covenanter's meeting, but Lady Cassillis died in early Dec. of 1642 (and never abandoned her husband at any date), so it was probably a song meant to embarass the Earl of Cassillis, a staunch covenanter, using the already known tune of "Lady Cassillis' Lilt". [Child ballad. See Gypsy Davie in DT]