Banks of the Inverness, The

DESCRIPTION: The sailor sees a girl sighing on the banks of the (Inver)ness. He asks her if she is available. She says she is engaged to Willie. He declares that Willie is "in cold irons bound" and will not return. She says she will remain faithful. He reveals himself
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1886 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(1752))
KEYWORDS: love courting separation reunion disguise
FOUND IN: Ireland Britain(Scotland(Aber)) Canada(Ont)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Greig-FolkSongInBuchan-FolkSongOfTheNorthEast #153, p. 1, "Young William's Denial" (1 text)
Greig/Duncan5 1047, "The Banks of the Inverness" (1 text, 1 tune)
Henry/Huntingdon/Herrmann-SamHenrysSongsOfThePeople H205, pp. 319-320, "The Banks of the River Ness" (1 text, 1 tune)
Graham-Joe-Holmes-SongsMusicTraditionsOfAnUlsterman 4, "The Banks of the River Ness" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #3813
RECORDINGS:
John Leahy, "Banks of Inverness" (on ONEFowke01)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(1752), "The Banks of Inverness" or "Young William's Denial" ("I am a jolly sailor bold, and just returned to shore"), H. Such (London), 1863-1885 ; also Firth c.12(279), "The Banks of Inverness" or "Young William's Denial"; Harding B 15(8Ab), "Banks of the Inverness" or "Young William's Return"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. esp. "John (George) Riley (I)" [Laws N36] and references there
cf. "The Banks of Dundee (Undaunted Mary)" [Laws M25] (prequel)
cf. "William's Return to the Banks of Sweet Dundee (Answer to Undaunted Mary)" (another Laws M25 sequel)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Young William's Return
Young William's Denial
NOTES [60 words]: Greig: "In default of information as to the source of the record one must be cautious; but I am inclined to take the ditty as an attempt, on the part of a southerner probably, to make a sequel to 'The Banks of Sweet Dundee.'" I agree, considering the plot, the names and the statement by Mary that "'Twas for my dearest William I my uncle's life did take." - BS
Last updated in version 3.5
File: HHH205

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