Famous Flower of Serving Men Ewan MacColl (child 106)

Sweet William - The Famous Flower of Serving Men
Ewan MacColl
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Vol. 3 - The Child Ballads

Child Ballad # 106

Child considered this ballad to be closely related to "The Border Widow's Lament". The first several verses of both these ballads are very similar and in some cases exactly the same. In the Famous Flower of Serving Men after burying her husband the woman cuts her hair and pretends to be a man calling herself "Sweet William". She goes to the King becoming his servant, in most versions she becomes his chamberlain.
One day while the King is out hunting and Sweet William remains at home she takes out her lute and plays singing of her life and all that has happened to her. An old man who had also remained at home overhears her singing. The old man tells the King what he has learned. The King questions Sweet William and finding out the true story is overjoyed. He then makes her his wife, the serving man becoming a queen.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• famous
• flower
• serving
• man
• ewan maccoll
• child ballad
• folk song
• english
• and
• scottish
• ballads

[stewballmax3]

This latest offering in your much-treasured child ballad series exemplifies the sheer beauty of a song performed in a pure and unadulterated atmosphere of sheer simplicity and grace. Many thanks for this.

Pax,

Max

[leanannsidhe]

@stewballmax3 Glad you liked it. I always liked The Border Widow's Lament and had never heard this song until recently. I was so happy to find it and hear the "full story". take care :)

[timpani25]

great great version of this old song. can't thank you enough.

a 42

[marcoacca]

Thank you so much for sharing these gems. Thank you, truly. Ciao, Marco.