1063. Broom of the Cowdeknows (Child 217) - (Traditional Scottish)

Also known as "The Laird of Knotington", "Laird o Ochiltree", "Laird o Lochinvar", "The Maid o the Cowdenknows" and "Bonny May", this ballad goes back to at least the early seventeenth century. A version was published in 1651 as "The Lovely Northerne Lass". It was very popular during the last five years of the reign of King James 1. Some believe it to have been written by David Rizzio, personal secretary (and suitor) of Mary, Queen of Scots, who was murdered at Holyrood Palace in 1566. Child collected fourteen variations.

Cowdenknowes is a Scottish estate on the Leader Water, 32 miles from Edinburgh.

Versions of this song have been recorded by many artists, including The Clancy Brothers, The Corries, Archie Fisher, Jean Redpath, Ed Miller, Steeleye Span and June Tabor. There are a number of tunes used for this ballad. The one I use was originally a dance tune, published in Playford's The Dancing Master of 1651. Although it had the same title as the song, it did not come with lyrics, and was probably grafted onto the lyrics at a later date.

Many versions have the following chorus:

O the broom, the bonnie, bonnie broom
The broom o the Cowdenknowes
Fain wad I be in my ain country
Herding my faither's yowes.

However this only makes sense in the variations where the girl is exiled after she gets pregnant, which is not the case in the version I sing.

This song was requested by scifiwritir.

You can watch a playlist of my renditions of the Child ballads:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B2D0D5657EA394E4

For lyrics and chords of my songs, please see my website: http://www.raymondcrooke.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• song
• scotland
• laird
• bonny
• may
• love
• pregnancy

[leanannsidhe]

Very Good! I've been meaning to upload the Ewan MacColl version I have of this song, I might finally get around to it now :) Thank you for the background information on the song as I had never really nailed down the history. Thank you

[raymondcrooke]

@leanannsidhe Please do. I don't think his rendition is available yet on YouTube.

[scifiwritir]

Wow, this version has a really complex backstory. I like this version as well. Thanks so much. 

[raymondcrooke]

@scifiwritir Thanks for suggesting "Bonny May"!

[killiekentman]

another good one Raymond. many thanks.Ray

[raymondcrooke]

@killiekentman Thanks, Ray. Raymond.

[raymondcrooke]

@garibelon Thanks, Gari. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[garibelon]

You did a very good rendition of it, Raymond. :)

I enjoyed it very much.

My favourite record is done by "Cherish The Ladies". I know it from the Tønder Festival 2002 CD.

All the best

gari ♫

[raymondcrooke]

@UncleVRoy Thanks, Johnny.

[UncleVRoy]

oh lovely!