King Henry (song)

"King Henry" is Child ballad 32.[1]

It is a version of the tale of the loathly lady. This form of the tale appears in Hrólfr Kraki's saga and also in the Scottish tale, The Daughter Of King Under-Waves.[2] A similar bride is found in "The Marriage of Sir Gawain".[3]

Versions

Steeleye Span included it in the 1972 album Below the Salt. Martin Carthy also recorded a version, currently available on The Carthy Chronicles: A Journey Through the Folk Revival disk 4 'Child:Carthy'

References

  1. ^ Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, "King Henry"
  2. ^ Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 1, p 297, Dover Publications, New York 1965
  3. ^ Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 1, p 298, Dover Publications, New York 1965