(Child #293, Greig-Duncan V5 #1029, Sir Walter Scott)
I heard this song at folkclubs and singarounds, growing up in the North East of Scotland. But never quite appreciated it’s beauty until I heard Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol recorded version for the soundtrack of AMC’s Turn Washington’s Spies series. Norman Kennedy recorded Jock O Hazeldean on his Springthyme album, I Little Thocht My Love Wid Leave Me. He states in the liner notes: “Walter Scott built this still popular song from fragments of the ballad John of Hazelgreen (Child #293).” Bertrand H Bronson printed twenty-eight versions of the song. Scott recomposed the ballad and featured it in his Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.
lyrics
Why weep ye by the tide lady,
Why weep ye by the tide,
Ill wed ye tae my youngest son,
And ye shall be his bride.
And ye shall be his bride lady,
Sae comely tae be seen,
But aye she let the tears down fa
For Jock o Hazeldean.
Noo let this willfu greif be done,
And dry that cheek sae pale.
Young Frank is Chief o Errington,
And Lord o langleydale,
His step is first in peacefull ha,
His sword in battle keen,
But aye she lets the tears down fa
For Jock o Hazeldean.
A chain of gold ye shall not lack,
Nor braid tae bind your hair,
Nor mettled hound, nor managed hawk,
Nor palfry fresh and fair,
And you the foremost o them a,
Shall ride our forest Queen,
But aye she let the tears down fa
For Jock o Hazeldean.
The kirk was decked at morning tide,
The taper glimmered fair,
The priest and bridegroom wait the bride,
And dame and night are there,
They sought her baith by bower and ha
The lady was not seen,
She's ower the border and awa,
Wi Jock o Hazeldean
credits
from Ballads Vol. I,
released July 22, 2020
Iona Fyfe: vocals
Aberdeenshire folksinger, Iona Fyfe, has become one of Scotland’s finest young folk singers, rooted in the singing
traditions of the North East of Scotland. The first ever singer to win the coveted title of Musician of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2021, Iona has been described as “one of the best Scotland has to offer.” (Global-Music.de)
supported by 41 fans who also own “Jock o' Hazeldean”
Love the complexity of this track and the rising and falling of the violins, and the texture. Makes me want to dance.
Thank you so much for this album. I really love it, and find it really inspiring my own work on the Witchcraft Trials ❤️ tararosehip
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