Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^

Subject: Flowers of the Forest
From: allie kiwi
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 12:06 AM

I have enjoyed the song 'Green Fields of France' for some time, but have often wondered about 'The Flowers of the Forest' tune/song mentioned in the chorus. Having looked in Mudcats DigiTrad for the lyrics, I found that there was was one with the correct title, but was actually written well after, and in reply to, the song 'Green Feilds of France'.

Does anyone know the significance of the REAL 'Flowers of the Forest'mentioned, and know of any lyrics?

Allie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest
From: kendall
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 12:14 AM

The song refers to the low land Scots. Joe Hickerson recorded this for Folk Legacy some years ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 12:23 AM

Hi - the lyrics and tune are in the Digital Tradition here: THE FLOWERS OF THE FOREST (click).
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: GUEST,BOAB
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 02:29 AM

The song is inspired by the terrible slaughter of the Scots at Flodden Field, the last Scots/English battle. The Flooers o' the Forest were all the young men of the border counties who perished . A ghastly battlefield debacle for the Scots, the subsequent events showed that the loss of life was not altogether in vain. Frantic measures to fortify Edinburgh proved to be unnecessary---the English army was itself so badly mauled that there was no significant incursion into Scottish territory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: Gareth
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 05:44 AM

Boab - Me thinks the selective memory syndrom has cut in.

slaughter of the Scots at Flodden Field, the last Scots/English battle.

Dunbar ?
Worcester ?
Prestonpans ?
Culloden ?

And thats leaving out events- before 1603.

BTW It was the South Welsh mercenary Archers who did the damage at Flodden.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: Scotland the brave
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 07:35 AM

The Floo'ers of the Forest

Hello my name is Tom, and I'm quoting from the sleeve notes of Ronnie Browne's c.d. battle songs and ballads.

he says

" In the year 1513, 80 Selkirk Souters left the town of Selkirk to join their king at the battle of Flodden. Only one returned alive. He carried with him a captured English standard. He told of the carnage of the battle and in anger twirled the flag around his head and cast it to the ground at his feet. The act of diefiance and the memory of those who fell in the battle,is commeorated to this day in the cermony of Casting of the Colours at the annual Selkirk common riding celebrations." I think that Souters were shoemakers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: Scotland the brave
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 07:36 AM

Not only that it was also the last battle that a King was invovled.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: Greyeyes
Date: 22 Sep 01 - 07:44 AM

People of Selkirk are all known as Souters. Shoemaking was at one time the towns main industry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: allie kiwi
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 01:51 AM

Wow, you people are amazing fountains of knowledge. Thank you so much.

Sorry Joe Offer for missing the lyrics in the DigiTrad - I looked under 'F for Flowers, not 'T' for The. *blush* Thank you for the link.

Allie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Sep 01 - 07:25 PM

Allie- Don't look for a title--titles are a snare and a delusion. If you were to enter [of the forest] in the blue search box, Flowers of the Forest would be one of the first four or five hits to come up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 12:11 AM

G'day alli Kiwi,

To reinforce what Dick says above - (mis)titles are a real trap ... they get you entering Green Fields if France to find Wee Eric Bogle's Mo Man's Land! (Admittedly, that one is so common, it probably has a reference.)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 04:57 AM

Gareth, my [Welsh?] friend---I'd be surprised if there were more Scots in Charles Edward Stewart's army at Culloden than there were in the BRITISH army opposing.Nor was Dunbar a Scots/English fight;Prestonpans was in the same category.None of the Jacobite stramashes had anything to do with Scotland's "freedom". They had everything to do with the Stewart's claim to the throne of the "United Kingdom" and the "divine right of kings". The bravery of the Highland clans in battle is legendary, and I'd be the last to denigrate them; but "Facts are chiels that winna ding", to quote the famous Rabbie---and a further look at his "Ye Jacobites by Name" might put the feelings of Scots contemporary to the period in even plainer perspective. And I believe Worcester was a Cromwellian fight in which Scots were involved--I think on the side of the parliamentarians.[?]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: HelenJ
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 07:52 AM

Lyr req.

"Ye Jacobites By Name" please. HelenJ.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flowers of the Forest ^^^
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 08:32 AM

Just type ye jacobites by name into the very useful "Digitrad and Forum Search" box, which you will find on the main Forum page.  Easy as that.  Lots of helpful information about searching the site, asking for lyrics etc., in the FAQ thread at the top of the Threads list; do have a look at it.