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13 Sep 06 - 09:22 PM (#1833975) Subject: Lyr Add: The Bonnie Blue Hankie From: toadfrog This is a very pleasant little song, sung by a very fine traditional singer. I recommend the disk highly; it came to me recommended by Dick Greenhaus. Does anyone know what "crooked sixpence" means, in context? To Scots travelling people? THE BONNY BLUE HANKIE (Traditional) "Oh where are you going to my pretty fair young maid? Where are you going to my pretty fair young maid?" "I am goin' a-milkin, kind sir" she did say, Wi' her bonnie blue hankie ticked under her chin. "Why do you wear that hankie, my pretty fair young maid? Why do you wear that hankie, my pretty fair young maid?" "It is just a country fashion, kind sir" she did say, Wi' her bonnie blue hankie ticked under her chin. "Oh, show me the crooked sixpence before you begin, Show me the crooked sixpence before you begin." And besides a crooked sixpence, he pulled out a ring, And a bonnie blue hankie ticked under her chin. "Oh will you marry me my pretty fair young maid? Will you marry me my pretty fair young maid?" "I will marry you, kind mister, kind sir," she did say, Wi' her bonnie blue hankie ticked under her chin. Sung by Jane Turriff, in "Singin' is Ma Life," Springthyme SPRCD 1038 (Original recording 5/9/71) JWM |
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14 Sep 06 - 04:13 AM (#1834125) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bonnie Blue Hankie From: Joe Offer Nice to see you over the weekend, Bill. We had another thread on "Bonny Blue Handkerchief" a while back. I think there's a consensus that the blue hankerchief has nothing to do with the yellow handkerchief of "Flash Company" (which is a trademark song for Dick Holdstock). -Joe Offer- |
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14 Sep 06 - 04:11 PM (#1834619) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bonnie Blue Hankie From: toadfrog Thanks Joe! I should have known the song was somewhere else on Mudcat. The "crooked sixpence" still has me a bit puzzled. It sounds like the young lady was accepting cash for her favors, and made such a good impression she got a proposal. A good song often leaves you with something to puzzle about. |
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19 Oct 12 - 08:39 AM (#3422569) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bonnie Blue Hankie From: GUEST,jrc This is an old thread but just to say: It is a very fine song (especially the Jane Turriff version): the crooked sixpence is a "broken token" (as occurs in quite a few scottish songs/ballads) and has nothing to do with prostitution. In other words the two protaganists knew each other and the maid gave him a token to remember her by, and with which to identify himself when next they met. There are a few (improbable but beguiling) scots songs in which the female apparently does not recognise her lover, he tests her, she passes the test, and he then brings out the broken token ("broken" token because the token is often broken in to two, one half for each). jrc |
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19 Oct 12 - 09:10 AM (#3422583) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bonnie Blue Hankie From: Jack Campin Wearing it under the chin isn't covered here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handkerchief_code There has got to be a song in that. |
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19 Oct 12 - 09:21 AM (#3422588) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Bonnie Blue Hankie From: GUEST,John from Kemsing Ah!. "The Bonnie Blue Handkerchief". That song`s "snot" what it used to be! |