Elfin Knight- Bella Higgins (Perth) 1956
[Fragment from: School of Scottish Studies; Original Tape ID - SA1956.112. Bella Higgins, Belle Stewart's sister-in-law, died in 1961.
R. Matteson 2018]
Bella Higgins recalls her mother sang the song, which included a verse about a sheep's horn.
The Elfin Knight- from Bella Stewart Higgins of Blairgowrie and her brother Andrew (Andra) Stewart, who sings on the recording. Recorded twice by Hamish Henderson.
You'll dip it in yon draw well
Blow, blow, blow the wynd blow
And for your life let one drop fall
And the weary wind blows ma plaidie awa'.
[Since that you gave those questions to me[1]
Blow, blow, blow the wynd blow
Let me give three tasks to you,
And the weary wind blows ma plaidie awa'.]
You'll hang it on yon green thorn bush
Blow, blow, blow the wynd blow
Where there never was a bush since Adam was a boy
And the weary wind blows ma plaidie awa
You'll bring to me a green-toppit thrush
Blow, blow, blow the wynd blow
...
...
1. a stanza remembered, taken from a second recording.