Lyr Req: can't remember the ballad - Lady Maisry

Subject: Lyr Req: can't remember th ballad
From: GUEST,George Carvill
Date: 23 Feb 20 - 02:31 PM

There is a ballad about a young noble woman who has a baby and is shunned in the castle by all including her parents. She will not name the father. Then someone -- a kitchen boy, maybe -- figures out who the father is and travels to that nobleman's fortress, tells him, and he rounds up 500 men and goes to get hie love and her baby.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: can't remember th ballad
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 23 Feb 20 - 02:34 PM

"The Rantin' Laddie" - recorded by Ewan MacColl?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: can't remember th ballad
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 23 Feb 20 - 02:37 PM

Child 65 Lady Maisry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: can't remember th ballad
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 23 Feb 20 - 03:00 PM

"Child 65 Lady Maisry."
Definitely
It all ends in tears (or blood)
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: can't remember th ballad
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 23 Feb 20 - 03:03 PM

Flames!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: can't remember th ballad
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 23 Feb 20 - 03:38 PM

Nothing in the question to suggest that she is killed in fact it states that her lover rounds up an army to rescue her:-

Oft times have I played at the cards and dice,
With my ain dear Rantin' Laddie,
But now I maun sit in my father's hall,
Singin Baa to my bastard baby

My father dear he knows me not,
And my mither she ignores me,
By my friends and relations slighted am I,
And the servants they all hate me.

When up and spake a kitchen boy,
Said although I am a caddie
I will run to the banks of Aboyne,
Wi a letter for your Rantin Laddie.

Ga get to me five hundred men,
And let them ride sa bonny,
We'll bring the bonny lassie back to Aboyne,
My ain dear Rantin Lassie

When she was up ahent his back,
Dressed in a Highand plaidie,
The birds in the trees sang none sa sweet,
As his ain dear Rantin Lassie.

There are, of course, several more verses but hopefully these will outline the story.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: can't remember th ballad
From: Mo the caller
Date: 23 Feb 20 - 05:23 PM

You mean it wasn't the kitchen boy, and no-one got killed. Well there's a change.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: can't remember th ballad
From: Brian Peters
Date: 23 Feb 20 - 05:44 PM

I'm with Dave S on this one. Lady Maisry gets burned, which isn't a dispensible plot element.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: can't remember th ballad
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 23 Feb 20 - 06:02 PM

I think the 500 men clinch it, and Jim and I are very rarely both wrong together.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: can't remember the ballad - Lady Maisry
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 07:12 PM

Is this the Mudcat equivalent of knocky door neighbour?
A guest submits and interesting and challenging post which is quickly pounced upon by all the leading ballad authorities, and me, only for the original poster to disappear and leave us all high and dry.
Come on George, can you come back and let us know which ballad is the one you seek and put us out of our misery (or Maisery)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: can't remember the ballad - Lady Maisry
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 02 Mar 20 - 05:50 AM

"I think the 500 men clinch it, and Jim and I are very rarely both wrong together."
Looks like we might be wrong this time
I seem to remember Ewan sang a version with 500 men and a 'kitchie boy'

And up and spak' a kitchie boy
"Though I am black, I'm Bonnie,
I'll run this hour tae the Banks o' Aboyn
Wi' a message for your Rantin' laddie"
Jim

Rantin' Laddie
Aft hae I played at the cards and the dice
Wi' my ain dear rantin' laddie;
But noo I maun sit in my father's kitchen nook,
And sing baloo to my bastard bairnie.

My father dear he knows me not,
My mother's quite forgot me;
My frien's and relations they a' slight me,
And the servants they do hate me.

Gin I had but ane o' my father's merry men,
As aftimes I've had many,
That wad rin on to the gates o'Aboyne
Wi'a letter to my rantin' laddie.

Is your love a laird, or is he a lord,
Or is he but a caddie,
That ye sae aft call on his name,
Your own dear rantin' laddie ?

My love's nae a laird, nor is he a lord,
Nor is he but a caddie;
But he's earl ower a' the lands o' Aboyne,
He's my own dear rantin' laddie.

Ye sall hae nane o' your father's merry men,
As afttimes ye've had many,
That will rin on to the gates o' Aboyne,
Wi' a letter to your rantin' laddie.

Oh, where will I get a bonnie wee lad
That will carry a letter cannie,
That will rin on to the gate o' Aboyne
Wi' a letter to my rantin' laddie?

It's here am I, a bonnie wee lad
That will carry a letter cannie,
That will rin on to the gate o' Aboyne
Wi' a letter to your rantin' laddie.

As he gang up by bonnie Deeside
The birks they were bloomin' bonnie
And there he spied the Earl o' Aboyne
Doon amang the bushes sae bonnie.

Fan he lookit the letter on,
And oh but he was sorry,
Oh they hae been cruel, and they've been unkind,
To my ain dear rantin' lassie.

Her father dear he knows her not,
Her mother's quite forgot her ;
Her frien's and relations they a' slight her,
And the servants they do hate her.

But I will raise an hundred men,
And oh but they'll shine bonnie ;
And I'll mount them all on milk-white steeds,
To bring home my rantin' lassie.

As they rode down through Buchanshire,
And Buchanhire shone bonnie,
Rejoice, rejoice, ye Buchan maids a',
Rejoice and be na sorry.

Gin ye lay your love on a lowland lad,
He'll do all he can to slight ye ;
Gin ye lay your love on a highland lad,
He'll do all he can to raise you.