Origins: Melville Castle (Bonnie Briar Bush)

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: MELVILLE CASTLE
From: chico
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 10:25 PM

Where does "Melville Castle Come From" Is it contemporary or ancient? Did it precede Burns' lyric to the same aire? (There Grows a Bonnie-Briar Bush).

Is Melville Castle real, and is Willie based on a real person (William Wallace?) Do the ladies represent anyone?

    G                Em               C                  D7
  Willie's gang tae Melville Castle, boots and spurs and a'
       G              Em             D7             G
  Tae bid the ladies all fareweel, afore he gangs awa'
   Em                  C                 G               D7
  Willie's young and blithe and bonnie, lo'ed by ane and a'
    G       D7       Em                C            G
  What will all the lassies do, when Willie gangs awa'
  
  The first he met was Lady Grace, she led him through the ha'
  And wi' a sad and sorry heart she let the tear doon fa'
  The next he met was Lady Kate, said ne'er a word at a'
  She thought that she was sure o' him before he gaed awa'
  
  The next to come was Lady Belle, Good troth, you needna craw
  Maybe the lad will fancy me and disappoint ye's a'
  Doon the stairs came Lady Jane, the flow'r o' them a'
  O ladies, trust in Providence and ye'll get husbands a'
  
  When on his horse he rade awa' they gathered roond the door
  He gaily waved his bonnet blue, they set up sic' a roar
  Their cries, their tears brought Willie back, he kissed them ane and a'
  O lassies bide till I come hame and then I'll wed ye a'
  

Subject: RE: Origins: Melville Castle (Bonnie Briar Bush)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 03:15 AM

There are hundreds of Willies in old songs; most of them were not Wallaces. There is a story that this Willy was a William McDougal (or MacDowell), but I have no idea if that's true. Melville Castle is real enough, anyway. It is in Lothian. It was rebuilt in the late 18th century, and is now an hotel.

The lyric is in the DT and a previous thread. It seems to have been recorded often by popular Scottish performers (and some not so Scottish) and appears on numerous websites; not a single one that I've seen provides an atom of useful information about it. Neither, for that matter, does the only print copy I seem to have (Songs of the North, I, 1885), which just says "Old Scottish Song".

Ancient? I doubt it, though it may be a little older than Burns. Are you sure that the tune is the same as Bonnie Brier Bush?

Subject: RE: Origins: Melville Castle (Bonnie Briar Bush)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 04:38 PM

Thanks, Malcolm. I haven't been able to find a scrap of information on it in over twenty years. To me, it sounds like the music hall idea of a traditional song - on no external evidence at all, I hasten to add!

Subject: RE: Origins: Melville Castle (Bonnie Briar Bush)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 06:39 PM

A copy at the Bodleian; no date or printer, but type is 19th c, ca. 1850 or later.

Subject: RE: Origins: Melville Castle (Bonnie Briar Bush)
From: chico
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 07:04 PM

The tune is the same as Bonnie Briar Bush