Origin: Wild Mountain Thyme

Subject: RE: Help: real origin of Wild Mountain Thyme
From: bill\sables
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 12:56 PM

In about 1962 I was in the Birtley Folk Club County Durham England, the home of the Elliot family, when the guest singers were the Mc Peak family from Northern Ireland and old Francis Mc Peak said, as he introduced Wild Mountain Thyme, that he had written it. Jack Elliot (not rambling Jack, stumbling Jack) said there and then that this song would be sung at the end of every folk club session in Birtley and as far as I know it always has been. Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: Help: real origin of Wild Mountain Thyme
From: SDShad
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 09:29 AM

Is there more of a story attached to that, Dick? Makes one curious.

Chris

Subject: RE: Help: real origin of Wild Mountain Thyme
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 08:26 PM

The only definitive answer is that if you make a record of it, Mr. McPeake will sue you. Whether or not he wrote it.

Subject: RE: Help: real origin of Wild Mountain Thyme
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 07:11 PM

Our own Sandy Paton is responsible for bringing it over to the US

Subject: RE: Help: real origin of Wild Mountain Thyme
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 06:05 PM

In case you missed the most recent thread, there's a list of links to earlier discussions  here.  As for a definitive answer...well...

Malcolm

Subject: real origin of Wild Mountain Thyme
From: Kim C
Date: 04 Apr 00 - 05:39 PM

This may have come up before but I'm sort of a newbie so -please indulge me, if you will. I have heard a lot of different things about the origin of the song Wild Mountain Thyme. That it was written by one of the McPeakes in this century, based on an older song. That it was written by an adversary of Rob Roy's in the 18th century. (Really. I actually read that somewhere. But only ONE somewhere.)That it's older than the hills. I can't find any information anywhere to prove or disprove anything I've heard. The only thing I know is that the words to the old Braes o'Balquidder are almost identical to Wild Mountain Thyme... but the melody isn't even close. Ideas? Thanks!!!!!!