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28 Dec 03 - 12:06 PM (#1080959) Subject: Lyr Add: DOWIE DENS OF YARROW (from Janet Russell From: Roberto Could somebody please check and correct this transcription of The Dowie Dens Of Yarrow as sung by Janet Russell on Fyre & Sworde? I can't undertsand the name of the hill the ploughboy lad frae Yarrow is going up. Thank you. Roberto In Thurrow town there lived a maid Ye scarce could find her marrow And she's forsook nine noble men For a ploughboy lad frae Yarrow Her faither he got word o' that And he's bred a' her sorrow He sent him forth to fight wi' nine On the dowie dens o' Yarrow She's washed his face and she's kaimed his hair As she's aft done before-O And she's made him look a knight sae fine To fecht for her on Yarrow Stay here, stay here, my bonnie lad And bide wi' me the morrow For my cruel brothers will ye betray On the dowie dens o' Yarrow As he gaed up by T... (?) Hill And doon the braes o' Yarrow 'T was there in a den were nine armed men Come to fecht wi' him on Yarrow Did ye come here tae drink the wine? Did ye come here tae borrow? Or did ye come tae wield yer brand On the dowie dens o' Yarrow? I am not come tae drink the wine Nor yet to beg or borrow But I am come tae wield my brand On the dowie dens o' Yarrow! If I see you all, you are nine men That's an unfair marrow But I will fecht while last my breath On the dowie dens o' Yarrow And three he slew and three they flew And three he's wounded sairly Till her brither John stood up behind And ran his body thorough O mither, I hae dream'd a dream A dream o' dule and sorrow I dream'd that I pu'd heather bells On the dowie dens o' Yarrow O dochter I hae read your dream I doubt it will prove sorrow For your ain true love is pale and wan On the dowie dens o' Yarrow As she gaed up yon high high hill And doon the houms o' Yarrow 'T was there she saw her ain true love Lying pale and wan on Yarrow She's washed him in a clear well-strand She's dried him wi' the hollan And aye she sighed, alas she cried - For my love I had him chosen Her hair it being three quarters lang The colour it being yellow She's tied it roond his middle sae small And she's bore him doon tae Yarrow O hold your tongue, my daughter dear And talk no more of sorrow I'll wed you soon on a better match Than the ploughboy lad frae Yarrow O faither, ye hae siven sons Ye may wed them a' tomorrow Ye may wed your sons, but ye'll ne'er wed The bonny lass of Thurrow |
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28 Dec 03 - 12:36 PM (#1080973) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: janet russell's dowie dens of yarrow From: Joe Offer Hi, Roberto. I don't have that album, so I can't help you directly. Note that I've crosslinked this thread to the other threads we have on the song - those threads should help you somewhat. Don't tell my wife, but I think I'm in love with Janet Russell. I wondered about her age, and somebody told me she's older than I'd think. This page says she was born in 1958. That isn't so old, is it? What a lovely singer she is. I hate to tell you how many concerts I went to at Whitby Folk Week last year, just so I could see Janet Russell again. -Joe Offer- |
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28 Dec 03 - 04:03 PM (#1081079) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: janet russell's dowie dens of yarrow From: Roberto The booklet of the CD says the text Janet Russell sings was given to her by Sandra Kerr. The town of Thurrow is not identified. In other versions (Child J, for instance) there is a Thorro. No other version that I know mentions the name of the hill. It was a high, high hill, and that is all. I hope some Mudcatter has this CD and the time and will to find out the name of the hill and tell me about that. As for Janet Russell, I've never had the pleasure to see her, but I have always liked very much her recordings, although I swear, Joe, I'll avoid to "fecht for her on Yarrow" against you. Roberto |
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28 Dec 03 - 08:16 PM (#1081191) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: janet russell's dowie dens of yarrow From: Malcolm Douglas The only version of the song that mentions Thoro or Thorro, so far as I know, is Child's example J, which Roberto has already mentioned. It was noted from Marion Miller, Threepwood, Melrose, apparently by Thomas Wilkie, presumably in the first decade of the 19th century or a little earlier. Not the text we have here, though. The hill is almost invariably just a "high, high hill" without a name; the only instance I know of where it is identified is in Jane Turriff's set, where it is referred to as "yon Tenniesbank", this being a localisation to the Tinnis Burn area, near Newcastleton. (Jane Tuffiff, Singin is Ma Life, Springthyme SPRCD 1038, 1996). I should imagine that this is a collated rather than traditional text. Since lyrics are not printed in the CD insert, you will probably only get guesses in answer to this question unless you ask Sandra. |
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29 Dec 03 - 02:35 AM (#1081351) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: janet russell's dowie dens of yarrow From: Roberto Thank you, Malcolm. I think Tennies Hill is what Janet Russell sings. |
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27 Jan 07 - 02:28 PM (#1949821) Subject: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow From: Roberto Did ye come here tae drink the wine? Did ye come here tae borrow? Or did ye come tae wield yer brand On the dowie dens o' Yarrow? I am not come tae drink the wine Nor yet to beg or borrow But I am come tae wield my brand On the dowie dens o' Yarrow! This particular two verses I have taken from The Dowie Dens Of Yarrow Janet Russell, on Fyre & Sworde, Songs of the Border Reivers, Fellside FECD131, 1998. The set is similar to Child J. 1. How to translate "beg or borrow" in this context? 2. wield the brand: I intend to swing the sword. Correct? Thanks. R |
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28 Jan 07 - 02:30 AM (#1950154) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: Joe Offer Hi, Roberto. I moved you over to this thread so we'd have the entire discussion of the Janet Russell version in one place. "Everything I can beg, borrow, or steal" is an idiomatic English phrase. I guess in this context, it means "scrounge," to get something for nothing. "Wielding a brand" should mean using a sword (for fighting). -Joe- |
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28 Jan 07 - 03:50 AM (#1950177) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: Roberto Thanks, Joe. I think scrounge gets the idea. R |
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28 Jan 07 - 11:18 AM (#1950397) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: Malcolm Douglas There may also be a play on words here, in that 'borrow' can also (in Scottish usage, at any rate) mean "to pledge ... in liquor"; that may be implied in the first verse you quote. "But I am come tae wield my brand" means (in Standard English) "But I am come to wield my brand". The usage is quite old fashioned, and nowadays mostly confined to poetic diction. 'Sword' is a perfectly good substitute if you feel the need to change it. 'Wield' is still used; not very much in everyday conversation, but extremely often in fantasy novels. There is an implication of skill and control that isn't well served by substituting 'swing;' I should stick to 'wield' if I were you. |
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28 Jan 07 - 11:40 AM (#1950420) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: eddie1 Joe Offer So you are my rival for the hand of the fair Janet? How about rude word's at 30 paces - and I will tell your wife! All's fair in love and scrabble! Eddie |
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29 Jan 07 - 01:27 AM (#1950968) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: Roberto Malcolm, I don't need to change "wield my brand", but to be sure of its meaning. In old-faschioned poetic Italian, we have expressions that are literary the same, such as "roteare il brando", you can find it in chivalry poems. "Brando" for "spada" as "brand" for "sword". But I wanted to be sure. Thanks. R |
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16 Dec 09 - 09:25 AM (#2789608) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russe From: GUEST,Matt Seattle An old thread, I know, but Tennies bank is in Scott's Minstrelsy version, not given by Child because it is a collation, but anthologised elsewhere. There is indeed a Tinnis between Langholm and Newcastleton, but this is a long way from Yarrow However, after noticing a house with a Tinnis name while driving along the Yarrow valley the other week, I consulted my map and found Tinnis Farm and Old Tinnis right next to the Yarrow. Presumably one of Scott's sources had this specific localisation. |
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17 Dec 09 - 03:00 AM (#2790140) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: GUEST,AllanC Matt you are right in that there is no need to locate Tinnis way down the Newcastleton way. The name as you say exists right there in Yarrow itself. Other than that there is also the ruined Tinnis Castle in nearby Peeblesshire between Drumelzier and Dawyck. I'd have thought the geographic question in the version given is where on earth is Thurrow town? |
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01 Apr 11 - 01:13 AM (#3126019) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: GUEST What is the name of the hill? Francis James Child seems to consistently use "yon high high hill" in his sixteen versions and fragments. This is Child #214 under the title "The Braes o Yarrow." Titles include (preceding "of Yarrow":' Dowie Downs, Dowy Dens, Dowy Houms, Dowie Dens, Yetts of Gowrie Buckshot Dot |
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01 Apr 11 - 07:13 AM (#3126118) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: GUEST,Sara O'Keeffe Since we're talking 'Dowie Dens O Yarrow', has anyone heard Karine Polwart's version? It's very beautiful, but with an edge to it, like most of her stuff. If I had time now I would check the name of the hill in her version, but I really MUST book my Cropredy tickets!! |
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01 Apr 11 - 12:55 PM (#3126336) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: GUEST,leeneia I looked up 'brand' in my unabridged dictionary. Technically, the brand is the blade of a sword, but it's used poetically to refer to the entire sword. It baffles me why the words for swords (brand, brandish) and the words for burning (brand, to brand) are linked etymologically. |
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02 Apr 11 - 11:52 AM (#3126951) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: GUEST,crazy little woman that word 'marrow' above should be 'merrow.' A merrow is a match or equal to something else. Marrow, on the other hand, is in the middle of bones. Precious stuff, because it produces blood cells. And at one time Hercule Poirot planned to retire and cultivate vegetable marrows, whatever they are, but it didn't last. |
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02 Apr 11 - 01:58 PM (#3127030) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: GUEST,Allan Conn The Concise Scots Dictionary gives the definitions of 'marrow' as 'partner' or 'match' or 'spouse' among other things. I don't think there is any doubt that 'marrow' is the correct usage here. This is a Scottish ballad after all. Merrow is not even given as an alternative spelling! |
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02 Apr 11 - 02:13 PM (#3127039) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: Micca Marrow As in "THE COLLIER'S RANT 1. As me and me marra was gannin' to wark, We met wi' the devil, it was in the dark, I up wi' me pick, it bein' in the neet, And knocked off his horns, likewise his club feet!" |
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02 Apr 11 - 10:21 PM (#3127290) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: GUEST,crazy little woman okay |
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20 Apr 11 - 04:25 AM (#3138771) Subject: RE: two verses in Dowie Dens O Yarrow (Janet Russell) From: GUEST,Del de Lorme in Chatham Digressing slightly, has anyone heard English folk singer Barry Skinner's version? It is absolutely superb, easily the best version I have heard. It's on his excellent LP 'Bed, battle and booze.' |