The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #10547   Message #73812
Posted By: Bruce O.
27-Apr-99 - 03:27 PM
Thread Name: Gypsy Rover a real folk song?
Subject: RE: Gypsy Rover a real folk song
Bronson's 'Traaditional Tunes of the Child Ballads' has 128 tunes, all but about 3 with versions of the songs.

Actually 2 Johnnie Fa's were hung early in the 17th century, and the ballad writer may have picked one of them for his song, but neither had any known connection with a Lady Cassillis. The 18th century tune "The Gypsie Laddie" wasn't known to be the 17th century "Lady Cassillis' Lilt" until 1838, and Child didn't know that, and thought Cassilis was derived from castle, instead of the other way around.