Jenny Nettles

DESCRIPTION: Have you seen Jenny Nettles coming from the market, baggage on her back, wages in her lap, and baby under her arm? The singer meets her singing to her baby, Robin Rattle's bastard. To flee the grief and mocking, she seeks Robin to put it under his arm.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1733 (Ramsay)
KEYWORDS: grief sex nonballad bastard
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Greig/Duncan8 1725, "Jeanie Nettle" (2 texts, 1 tune)
ADDITIONAL: David Herd, editor, Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads, etc. (Edinburgh, 1870 (reprint of 1776)), Vol II, p. 60, "Jenny Nettles"
Allan Ramsay, The Poems of Allan Ramsay (Paisley, 1877 (reprint of 1800 edition) ("Digitized by Google")), Vol II, #85 pp. 218-219, "Jenny Nettles"
Allan Ramsay, The Tea-Table Miscellany: or, A Collection of Scots Sangs (in three vols) (London, 1733 (ninth edition) ("Digitized by Google")), p. 194, "Jenny Nettles"
James Johnson, Editor, _The Scots Musical Museum_ [1853 edition], volume I, #52, p. 53, "Jenny Nettles" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST GrD81725 (Partial)
Roud #2581
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, 2806 c.14(115), "Robin Rattle's Bastard" ("Saw ye Jenny Nettles"), William Anderson (Paisley), 19C
NLScotland, L.C.Fol.178.A.2(001), "Robin Rattle's Bastard," William Anderson (Paisley), c.1852
NOTES [156 words]: The description follows Herd's version. Ramsay adds a verse shaming Robin Rattle and saying "without mair debate o't," take home your baby and make Jenny happy. The broadside form is Ramsay's.
Broadsides NLScotland L.C.Fol.178.A.2(001) and Bodleian 2806 c.14(115) are duplicates.
.".. in the middle of a moor near Kilgour, is the grave of Jenny Nettles, who has given name to a lively Scotch air and an old song, beginning, 'Saw ye Jennie Nettles coming through the market.' The unfortunate heroine was a native of Falkland, and famed for her great beauty. When Rob Roy took possession of Falkland after the battle of Sheriffmuir [1715], one of his soldiers courted Jenny and then deserted her, and she, in a fit of despair, hanged herself on a tree at the side of the road, about half-way between Falkland and Strathmigle." (source: The History and Scenery of Fife and Kinross (Edinburgh, 1875 ("Digitized by Google")), pp. 108-109) - BS
Last updated in version 3.0
File: GrD81725

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