Gin my Bonnie Babe Was Born- G. Riddell (Aber) 1905 Greig E
[From: The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection - Volume 8 - page 259; by Patrick N. Shuldham-Shaw, Emily B. Lyle - 2002. Notes from an issue of Tocher follow.
This was probably collected at an earlier date since Riddell corresponded with Grieg in 1903. The George Riddell MSS. is found in the National Library of Scotland. Riddell, a fiddler, first noted the melody and later collected the words. This text is probably late 1905 or 1906.
There's an excellent article on Riddell here: http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2164/5020/Driving_the_Bow_2008_Ch._4_Campbell_.pdf;jsessionid=CE09C6BBC73EFE998BE338218544CA3E?sequence=1
R. Matteson 2017]
George Riddell who lived in Rosehearty which is on the coast, the bit that goes along east- west at the top of Aberdeenshire. He was a fiddler and in 1903 he sent in 64 airs to Gavin Greig who commented on what he sent: "He has not done any hunting as yet." [Tocher: Tales, Songs, Tradition - Issue 53 - Page 236, 1997]
E. Gin my Bonnie Babe Was Born- sung by George Riddell of Rosehearty (Aberdeenshire). Collected by Gavin Grieg, c. 1908.
1. Dig me a grave both lang and deep
Put a stone at my head and one at my feet,
And in the middle a turtle dove,
To let them know that I died for love.
2. Oh gin my bonnie babe was born,
And laid upon a nurse's knee,
I mysel row'd up in cauld clay
And the green grass growing over me.