Black Is the Colour (Of My True Love's Hair)

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This article is about the folk song. For the 2003 Twilight Singers EP, see Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair (EP).

"Black Is the Colour (of My True Love's Hair)" (Roud 3103) is a traditional folk song first known in the Appalachian Mountains region of United States in 1915, but most probably originated from Scotland, as attributed to reference to Clyde in the song's lyrics.

Many different versions of this song exist, some addressed to female and others addressed to male, as well as other differences:

...like some rosy fair... or ...like a rose so fair...
...the prettiest face and the neatest hands... or ...the sweetest face and the gentlest hands...
...still I hope the time will come... or ...some times I whish the day will come...
...you and I shall be as one... or ...s/he and I can be as one...

While it is unclear what version should be considered "original", it is believed that the originally the song was addressed to a woman, with the male-addressed version made popular by Nina Simone in the middle of XX century.

Lately, this song became a part traditional repertory for Celtic music artists.

[edit] Recorded versions

Versions of the song have been recorded by many artists, including;

Artist	Album	Genre	Year	Comments
Joan Baez	Joan Baez in Concert	Folk	1962
Marc Johnson, with Bass Desires
The Corrs	Home		2005
The Eccentric Opera	Hymne			The eighth track of Hymne album
Espers	The Weed Tree		2005
Luka Bloom	Turf	Folk / Singer-songwriter	1994
Gaelic Storm	Tree	Folk rock	2001	Sixth track of the album 'Tree'
Grace Griffith
The Human Beinz			1967	A version by US act
Hamish Imlach
Angelo Kelly
The Liberty Voices				As seen at Epcot's American Adventure
Christy Moore
Julie Murphy
Phineas Newborn, Jr.
John Jacob Niles
Nurse with Wound	She and Me Fall Together in Free Death	Experimental	2003
Pete Seeger
Kendra Shank	Wish	Vocal jazz	1998
Silverwheel
Nina Simone	Nina Simone at Town Hall	Jazz	1959	Nina Simone made it part of her standard repertoire, revitalizing the song's popularity
Jo Stafford
Stringmansassy
The Throb			1966	A version by Australian act recorded as "Black"
The Twilight Singers
Cara Dillon	Cara Dillon	Pop	2001	Irish folk singer Cara Dillon choose to perform a female-addressed version although she have never identified herselft as a lesbian. The single became her most widely acclaimed one to date.
Cara Dillon and Ulster Orchestra		Symphonic pop	2003	Dillon performed with Ulster symphony orchestra at Queen's Opening Ceremony of Belfast Festival. Video of the concert has been released.
2Devine featurung Cara Dillon	2005	House		DJ Pete Devine (also known as 2Devine and Coco & Green) recorded a house remix of Cara Dillon's version.
Clann Lir	Clann Lir	Traditional folk	2002	Male-addressed version by Russian Irish celtic act, sung by Melnitsa front-woman Hellawes.
Tellen Gwad	N/A	Neo-folk	2006	Female-addressed version by Russian acoustic act