Banks of the Dee (II), The

DESCRIPTION: The singer "heard a maid a-sighing... And, 'Johnny,' she was crying, 'oh how could you leave me?" He recalls leaving her on the spot, and how they promised to be true. He tells her her love was slain in battle, then reveals that he is her love
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1935 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: love courting separation soldier disguise reunion
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Henry/Huntingdon/Herrmann-SamHenrysSongsOfThePeople H583, p. 314, "The Banks of [the] Dee" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #3814
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. esp. "John (George) Riley (I)" [Laws N36] and references there
NOTES [48 words]: Huntington was of the opinion that this was the source for the song "The Banks of Champlain" which he found in the 1838 journal of the Nautilus. I disagree. There are several "Banks of the Dee" songs, and the other (to the tune "Langolee") fits "The Banks of Champlain" much better. - RBW
File: HHH583

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