Recordings & Info 225. Rob Roy
CONTENTS:
1) Alternative Titles
2) Traditional Ballad Index
3) Child Collection Index
4) Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America by Tristram Coffin 1950, from the section A Critical Biographical Study of the Traditional Ballads of North America
5) Folk Index
ATTACHED PAGES: (see left hand column)
1) Roud No. 340: Rob Roy (22 Listings)
Alternate Titles
Rob Oig
Traditional Ballad Index: 225. Rob Roy
NAME: Rob Roy [Child 225]
DESCRIPTION: Rob Roy comes to the lowlands and captures a wealthy lady. He orders her to marry him; she refuses. He prepares to kidnap her, and allows no delay. They are married without her consent. He describes his valor and bids her be content
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST_DATE: 1803
KEYWORDS: marriage abduction rejection
HISTORICAL_REFERENCES: Dec 8-9, 1750 - Abduction of Jean Key by Robert MacGregor
FOUND_IN: Britain(Scotland(High)) US(NE)
REFERENCES: (6 citations)
Child 225, "Rob Roy" (12 texts)
Bronson 225, "Rob Roy" (3 versions)
GlenbuchatBallads, pp. 42-44, "Rob Roy" (1 text)
BarryEckstormSmyth p. 296, "Rob Roy" (1 text, possiby derived from print)
Leach, pp. 583-585, "Rob Roy" (1 text)
DT 225, ROBROY
Roud #340
NOTES: This song is accurate enough as far as it goes, but far from complete. Rob Oig ("Young") was the fifth son of Walter Scott's Rob Roy, and a real desperado. In 1736 (when he was perhaps no older than twelve), he shot a trespasser and was outlawed when he refused to appear in court.
After spending time in the British army, he returned to England and married for the first time (despite still being outlawed). When this wife died, he and his brothers determined to marry him to Jean Key, a wealthy widow of nineteen. This rough wooing took place as described in the ballad.
In the sequel, the MacGregors were forced to release Jean Key (who died within a year), and both James MacGregor (who organized the plot) and Robert MacGregor were eventually brought to trial; James escaped, but Robert was executed in 1754. - RBW
Child Collection- Child Ballad 225: Rob Roy
Child --Artist--- Title --Album --Year ---Length ---Have
225 Dave Walters Rob Roy Comes Sailing In 1977 No
225 Ewan MacColl Rob Roy The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) - Vol. 6 [Reissue] 196? No
225 Ewan MacColl Rob Roy The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) - Vol. 3 1956 2:41 Yes
225 Hermes Nye Rob Roy Ballads Reliques - Early English Ballads from the Percy and Child Collections 1957 2:44 Yes
225 Jackie Oates Rob Roy The Violet Hour 2008 4:40 Yes
225 Jean Redpath Rob Roy Maiden Voyage 2002 No
225 Jean Redpath Rob Roy There Were Minstrels 1977 1:06 Yes
225 Orealis Rob Roy Celtic Music - Musique Celtique 1999 3:55 Yes
Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America
by Tristram Coffin 1950, from the section A Critical Biographical Study of the Traditional Ballads of North America
225. ROB ROY
Texts: Barry, Brit Bids Me, 296.
Local Titles: Rob Roy.
Story Types: A: Rob Roy attacks a border house to carry off as his wife a woman who detests him. He surrounds the place, enters, and takes the girl from her mother's embrace, although she refuses to go willingly.
Examples: Barry.
Discussion: The Canadian fragment consists of the first five stanzas of Child A and was not sung. The Child song continues the story through the forced marriage, the return to Scotland, Rob Roy's departure for France, and his promise to teach the girl to dance. The ballad is based on history (see Child, IV, 243 5). Robert Oig abducted Jean Key, a young, rich widow, and forced her to marry him in 1750. Four years later he was taken and executed.
Folk Index: Rob Roy [Ch 225]
Leach, MacEdward / The Ballad Book, Harper & Row, Bk (1955), p583
Rob Roy
Ford, Ira W. / Traditional Music in America, Folklore Associates, Bk (1965/1940), p 93b