Post by Chesapeake on May 31, 2019 14:11:54 GMT -5
This is from Allan Connochie, administrator of "Anglo-Scottish borderlands history 500-1603" (on Facebook) : The audio is a bit harsh, but it's a lovely tune, and I like the performance. In lieu of lyrics, Connochie outlines the story in his post (below).
The "Fair Flower Of Northumberland" is a song which can be dated as far back as at least 1597. It was popular in both Scotland and England - especially seemingly in the Border regions. It seems to then later have remained better known in Scotland.
This is Nuala Kennedy an Irish singer so a lot of the lyric is a bit Anglicised compared with some which maybe makes it easier for folks across the oceans! Anyway a Scots prisoner in Northumberland manages to charm the daughter of the local Provost into helping him escape. As they enter Scotland he tells her to get down off the horse. That she is a brazen faced whore - and he has a wife already. She begs to be given a job as a servant but he refuses saying his wife wouldn't accept her. He isn't totally heartless though and hires an old horse and a manservant to take her back home safely. Her father berates her but her mother welcomes her back suggesting she isn't the first young Northumberland girl to have her head turned by a Scot.
The "Fair Flower Of Northumberland" is a song which can be dated as far back as at least 1597. It was popular in both Scotland and England - especially seemingly in the Border regions. It seems to then later have remained better known in Scotland.
This is Nuala Kennedy an Irish singer so a lot of the lyric is a bit Anglicised compared with some which maybe makes it easier for folks across the oceans! Anyway a Scots prisoner in Northumberland manages to charm the daughter of the local Provost into helping him escape. As they enter Scotland he tells her to get down off the horse. That she is a brazen faced whore - and he has a wife already. She begs to be given a job as a servant but he refuses saying his wife wouldn't accept her. He isn't totally heartless though and hires an old horse and a manservant to take her back home safely. Her father berates her but her mother welcomes her back suggesting she isn't the first young Northumberland girl to have her head turned by a Scot.
