Birken Tree, The

DESCRIPTION: "Oh, lass, gin ye would think it right, To gang wi' me this very night, We'll cuddle till the mornin' licht...." The girl would like to meet him at the birken tree, but her parents watch closely. But she manages to sneak away; all ends happily
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1838 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(4027))
KEYWORDS: love separation reunion mother nightvisit
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Ford-VagabondSongsAndBalladsOfScotland, pp. 88-90, "The Birken Tree" (1 text, 1 tune)
Greig/Duncan4 802, "The Birken Tree" (3 texts, 2 tunes)
Ord-BothySongsAndBallads, pp. 100-101, "Johnnie's Got His Jean, O" (1 text)
DT, BIRKNTRE*
Roud #5069
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(4027), "The Birken Tree" ("Lass gin ye wad think it right"), W. Stephenson (Gateshead), 1821-1838
NLScotland, L.C.Fol.178.A.2(058), "The Birken Tree," unknown, c. 1860; also L.C.Fol.70(15a), c. 1875
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Bonny Glasgow Green" (tune, per Greig/Duncan4, and form)
File: FVS088

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