US & Canada Versions: 225. Rob Roy
[The sole version (a fragment of Child A) reported in North America is from Mrs. James McGill of Chamcook, New Brunswick, who moved from Scotland around 1911 so we may assume it was learned pre-1911. She, as one of Barry's best informants, was shown some of the Child ballads by Barry to help refresh her memory (See also Broom of Cowden-Knowes). Since this was not sung or recited but was sent in by the informant it makes the value of this version less significant. Still she clearly knew this ballad.
Barry BBM p. 296: When asked if she knew any Robin Hood ballads she replied, "No, but I know Rob Roy!"
CONTENTS: (Found on this page)
1) Rob Roy- McGill (NB) c.1927 Barry
________________________________________
Rob Roy- Sent in by Mrs. James McGill (NB) c.1927 Learned pre-1911; Barry, British Ballads from Maine (1929)
1 Rob Roy, frae the hich Hielands,
Cam to the Lowlan border;
It was to stown a lady awa',
To keep his Hieland hoos in order.
2 As he cam in by White Hoos,
He sent nae ane before him;
Or she wad hae secured the hoos,
For she did aye abhor him.
3 Twenty men surrounded the hoos, and twenty they went in,
They found her wi' her mither;
Wi' sighs and cries an watery eyes
They pairted frae each ither.
4 'O will ye be my dear?' he says,
'Or will ye be my honey?
O will ye be my wedded wife?
I lou you best of ony.'
5 "I winna be your dear," she says,
"Nor will I be your honey,
Nor will I be your wedded wife;
Ye lou me for my money."
Versions sent in like this bring up questions to my mind. How did she know so exactly Child's A Text (see below)? It seems like she made minor changes to the Child A text while looking at it- even if she sang a similar version it's not acceptable in my opinion to edit an existing text. Since she knew the first five verses so well, what about the rest of the ballad? The sixth verse of Child A is missing the first line. Did that have anything to do with it being five verses long? It's likely Barry provided her with a copy of Child's text. Clearly she knew a version of this ballad- did that change after viewing Child's text?
Without the text being sung or recited from memory, it weakens the value of the version.
R. Matteson 2013]
['Rob Roy']- Version A; Child 225 Rob Roy
Skene Manuscript, p. 44; from recitation in the north of Scotland, 1802-3.
1 Rob Roy, frae the high Highlands,
Came to the Lawlan border;
It was to steel a lady away,
To keep his Highland house in order.
2 As he came in by White House,
He sent nae ane before him;
She wad hae secured the house,
For she did ay abhor him.
3 Twenty men surrount the house, an twenty they went in,
They found her wi her mither;
Wi sighs and cries an watery eyes
They parted frae ane anither.
4 'O will ye be my dear?' he says,
'Or will ye be my honnie?
O will ye be my wedded wife?
I lee you best of ony.'
5 'I winna be your dear,' [she says,]
'Nor will I be your honnie,
Nor will I be your wedded wife;
Ye lee me for my money.'
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.