Bonnie Mally Stewart

DESCRIPTION: "The cold winter is past and gone, And now comes on the spring, And I am one of the King's Life-Guards, And must go fight for my king, my dear, And must go fight...." She offers to go with him. When he leaves, she follows; (when they meet, he denies her)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1904 (Ford)
KEYWORDS: soldier separation reunion betrayal cross-dressing
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Ford-VagabondSongsAndBalladsOfScotland, pp. 174-175, "Bonnie Mally Stewart" (1 text)
Greig/Duncan1 97, "Molly Stuart" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #5789
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "It Was A' for Our Rightfu' King" (lyrics)
cf. "I Once Loved a Boy" (tune)
NOTES [96 words]: This song ends with a verse also associated with Burns's "It Was A' for Our Rightfu' King," and follows the same metrical pattern. Ford thinks it the source of the Burns song, and this is certainly possible -- except that this song, which also looks composed, is not attested until the nineteenth century, and in broadsides. - RBW
The verse shared with "It Was A' For Our Rightfu' King" -- and the only lines shared -- is "He turn'd him right and round about, Upon the Irish shore; And gae his bridle reins a shake, With adieu for evermore, my dear, And adieu for evermore." - BS
Last updated in version 2.4
File: FVS174

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography