Origins: Earl of March's Daughter (McClelland)

Subject: RE: Origins: Earl of March's Daughter (McClelland)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 02 Jun 22 - 07:05 AM

The Earls of Mar are a different clan and family from the Earls of March. Lots of stuff on Google/Wikipedia, etc.
Perhaps the most famous (or notorious?) Earl of Mar was "Bobbing John":
"John Erskine, 23rd Earl of Mar, lived from 1675 to May 1732. An important landowner and politician, he played an key role in the Act of Union between Scotland and England in 1707; then led the Jacobite cause in the 1715 uprising. His frequent changes of sides led to him being known as "Bobbing John", and to his losing the trust of just about everyone."

Subject: RE: Origins: Earl of March's Daughter
From: Reinhard
Date: 30 May 22 - 03:22 PM

No.

THE EARL OF MARCH'S DAUGHTER
(Lionel McClelland):

Young Toshy Law's a huntin ga'in
And gallant is his deed
For he's ta'en the heart o' Lady March
The fairest maid in Tweed
...

THE EARL OF MAR'S DAUGHTER
(Roud 3879, Child 270):

It was intill a pleasant time,
Upon a simmer's day,
The noble Earl of Mar's daughter
Went forth to sport and play.
...

Subject: RE: Origins: Earl of March's Daughter
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 May 22 - 03:11 PM

So, is this The Earl of Mar's Daughter, or not? Don't know of any other songs that mention Peebles, a lovely town in the Scottish borders.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: GUEST,Nora
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 10:20 AM

Thanks all for your posts here. I heard Old Blind Dogs play this in the states recently (Lovin' Cup in Rochester, New York) and fell in love with it. I'm learning it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: Marion in Cornwall
Date: 22 Apr 18 - 01:54 PM

Just found this lovely version by Old Blind Dogs


Earl of March's Daughter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: GUEST,Dai Jeffries
Date: 16 Jan 13 - 08:08 AM

There is a splendid new version on Lionel's new CD 'To Wyle Us Hame'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: GUEST,pizel
Date: 13 Oct 12 - 12:09 PM

In the interests of historical accuracy can I point out that we never had Squires in Scotland. [chorus of song]
The equivelent to the English Squire was Laird and even Dukes when they were on their own lands were referred to as The Laird.
Sorry to be so pendantic but as this is a worldwide forum it is as well to keep the record straight.
Sir Walter Scott has a lot to answer for as he introduced English terms which were not used here before his time, a good example being "Hamlet" in place of "Clachan". Sir Walter was brought up in the only part of Scotland where gaelic was never in use if we can judge from the scarcity of gaelic place names in the extreme South East of the country.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: it'smagic
Date: 13 Oct 12 - 09:58 AM

For those interested, Lionel McClelland"s Earl of March's Daughter is on the new posthumous CD released by some of his friends and compiled from music that he was working on at the time of his death from a heart attack in 2010. The title of the album is To Wyle Us Hame. I bought it and I like it very much. There was a move afoot to vote this up in the traditional Scottish music album of the year competition (I think it is called the Alba awards). There a page on Facebook for it called R.I.P Lionel McClelland Community. The voting is now closed, and I'm not sure when the winner will be decided.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 10:32 AM

Thanks for posting, Kirsten. And just in time for Hallowe'en.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 08:39 AM

Lionel Mcclelland R.I.P.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAID OF NEIDPATH (Sir Walter Scott)
From: KirstenE
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 06:54 AM

The Earl O March's Daughter
Jean Douglas was the youngest daughter of William Douglas, Earl of March (1724-1810). Forbidden to marry the son of the laird of Tushielaw, who was considered below her station, she pined while her lover was exiled. When Tushielaw returned, Jean was so ill that he didn't recognise her, and she died broken hearted. Jean haunts Neidpath Castle and appears clad in a full-length brown dress with a large white collar. Sir Walter Scott also wrote a poem about her, although in my opinion, it's nowhere near as good as Lionel's song.

The Maid of Neidpath
by Sir Walter Scott

O lovers' eyes are sharp to see,
And lovers' ears in hearing;
And love, in life's extremity,
Can lend an hour of cheering.
Disease had been in Mary's bower,
And slow decay from mourning,
Though now she sits on Neidpath's tower,
To watch her love's returning.

All sunk and dim her eyes so bright,
Her form decay'd by pining,
Till through her wasted hand, at night,
You saw the taper shining;
By fits, a sultry hectic hue
Across her cheek was flying;

By fits, so ashy pale she grew,
Her maidens thought her dying.
Yet keenest powers to see and hear
Seem'd in her frame residing;
Before the watch-dog pricked his ear
She heard her lover's riding;
Ere scarce a distant form was ken'd,
She knew, and waved to greet him;
And o'er the battlement did bend,
As on the wing to meet him.

He came—he pass'd—an heedless gaze,
As o'er some stranger glancing;
Her welcome, spoke in faltering phrase,
Lost in his courser's prancing.
The castle arch, whose hollow tone
Returns each whisper spoken,
Could scarcely catch the feeble moan
Which told her heart was broken

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Apr 06 - 01:43 AM

Yes, please, Lionel. It would be great to have the exact lyrics, and information on how to license the song for recording.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Origins: Earl of marches Daughter
From: GUEST,Lionel Mcclelland
Date: 12 Apr 06 - 08:34 AM

I wrote this song in the Early Eighties It is Published By Limetree Arts and Music (Dunkeld Records).
If Anybody would Like the authentic lyrics Please ask the author I.E. Me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: Red Goat
Date: 29 Jan 01 - 11:16 AM

scott! sorry im not as prompt as you, but i dont get to a computer very often ... an outfit called elderly instuments can get me the second two albums, and, joy of joys, i found a cassette copy of guid neibours here in ann arbor, mich, for only five dollars! its great stuff, transcending even my nostalgia, and my bros and i will be playing yellows on the broom and dixie darlin in a pub in grand rapids mich as part of our st paddys day gig ... thnaks in no small part to you! so anyway, thanks for the info ... sean

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: Jock Morris
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 07:45 AM

3 albums exist, to my knowledge; one being on one of those black plastic things only. Earliest (the vinyl one) is 'Guid Neighbours', from when there were still 3 members of the band. This is the one with Earl of March's Daughter on it. Can't remember the name of the second album, but the third is 'Peace Enjoyment Love and Pleasure'.

Where are you Sean? Probably hard to get any of them outside of the UK. If you have problems getting them PM me your postal address and I'll try to get them direct from the band for you.

Scott

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: Red Goat
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 01:22 PM

... a hearty thanks to both of you and particularly to scott - a great way to come back from holidays to find not only the words but the name of the band as well ... im off now to hunt down black eyed biddy recordings ...

sean henne

Subject: Lyr Add: EARL OF MARCH'S DAUGHTER
From: Jock Morris
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 04:05 AM

This time with the lyrics in front of me:

The Earl of March's Daughter
(written by Lionel McClelland of the group Blackeyed Biddy)

Young Toshy Law's a hunting ga'en
And galant is his deed,
For he's ta'en the heart of Lady March
The fairest maid in Tweed.

But the faither he has banished him
For he's below her station
And Toshy Law has fled tae France
To fight for King and nation.

She's the Earl of March's daughter and the fairest of them a'
But the humble squire o' Toshy Law has ta'en her heart awa'.

Now the lady she has heard the news
That Toshy Law has fled
And the lady's looking pale and drawn,
She's ta'en unto her bed.

A physician's came tae Neidpath,
A' season she's been lying,
I fear she has a broken heart,
I fear my lady's dying.

chorus

Now her faither he's conceeded
And he's one to tak' the blame.
And a messenger has sent awa'
To feth her lover hame.

And the lady's feeling better,
She's risen tae her feet
An' she's ta'en a hoose in Peebles town
Her true love there to meet.

chorus

But she's looking tired and palid,
Her cheeks have lost their glow,
She's no the hansome beauty that
She was a year ago.

And when Toshy Law to Peebles cam'
His horse he didna tether,
He swiftly passed the lady by
An' ta'en her for another.

chorus

He's galloped on for Neidpath
To see his love again,
He spurs his horse in anguish
But he spurs his horse in vain.

For the lady lies in Peebles toon,
It's there she's passed awa'.
Her wounded heart nae longer beats
For handsome Toshy Law.

chorus to end.

Scott

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: Jock Morris
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 04:10 AM

Wrong one Brendy. The Earl of March's Daughter was written by Lionel McClelland of the group Blackeyed Biddy.

From memory:

Young Toshy Law's a huntin ga'in
And gallant is his deed
For he's ta'en the heart o' Lady March
The fairest maid in Tweed

chorus as hennes remembered

Now the faither he has banished him
For he's below her station.
And Toshy Law has fled to France
To fight for King and nation.

When the lady she has heard the news
That Toshy Law has fled....

Oh bugger, my memory fails me:-(

Guess I'll have to check with the sleeve notes tonight and get back to you.

Scott

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Earl of March's Daughter
From: Brendy
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 01:26 PM

There's one in the DT...HERE, called 'The Earl of Mar's Daughter. Hope it's the right one.

B.

Subject: Earl of March's Daughter
From: Red Goat
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 12:07 PM

... so i was in scotland ten years ago, sitting in the teviot row house, and the band played this song, the chorus of which i havent been able to get out of my head since ... and now i find theres a whole plethora of lovely folks who enjoy this type of music and might just know the rest of the song! anyway, as best i can tell, the chorus goes like this:

shes the earl of march's daughter, the fairest of them all and the humble squire, tashie law? has taen her heart awa'

... the song fascinated me because it has the traditional poor rover type hooks up with noble young woman theme, but with a bizarre twist at the end where he rides back from war to find her wasted away to the point he doesnt recognize her and doesnt believe she is his love ...