Willie O Winsbury is Child Ballad #100, existing in several variants.[1] It is a traditional Scottish ballad that dates from at least 1775, and is known under a number of different names, including Lord Thomas of Winesberry.
Contents |
A king is away for a long time. His daughter becomes pregnant by the hero, William or Thomas. The king threatens to hang him, but is struck by his beauty and offers him the heroine and gold. The hero accepts the lady but declares that he has both gold and lands enough of his own.
This ballad closely parallels Child ballad 99, Johnie Scot.[2].
In one variants, the lands are specifically described: he will be king when he returns to Scotland. It may, in fact, be based on James V's courtship of and marriage to Madeleine de Valois of France; James came to see the woman he was betrothed to in disguise, and went on to meet the princess, who fell in love with him.[3]
Nowadays the song is often sung to the tune of Fause Foodrage, rather than its own traditional tune.
This song was recorded by Sweeney's Men on their eponymous debut album in 1968. Andy Irvine performs the song. solo, accompanying himself on guitar. The tune is stated to be a wrong one chosen by mistake that happened to fit the words.
John Renbourn recorded this song on his album Faro Annie in 1971.
Anne Briggs recorded the song in 1971, accompanied by Johnny Moynihan, for her album Anne Briggs.
The song was recorded by Pentangle in 1972, on their album Solomon's Seal.
The Great Big Sea song John Barbour, on their Something Beautiful* CD, is based on this ballad.
The Song "Farewell Farewell" recorded by Fairport Convention on Liege and Lief is actually new lyrics (written by Richard Thompson) set to the Fause Foodrage tune now commonly used for Willie O Winsbury. A recording of Willie O Winsbury played and sung by Thompson was included in his compilation boxset RT.
Maps sampled the Sweeney's Men version on their song "To The Sky", from their album We Can Create
Meg Baird of Espers recorded the song for her 2007 album "Dear Companion."
This song was sung by Connie Dover and is found on her 1994 album The Wishing Well.
Dick Gaughan performs this song on his 2002 release of Prentice Piece and originally on his 1978 Release "Gaughan".
Nathan Rogers recorded this song on his 2009 release "The Gauntlet".
Nic Jones sings "William of Winsbury" on "Unearthed".
Tony Capstick sings "Sit Thomas of Winesberry" on "His Round" ("Stolen from Peter Wood").
Kate Rusby sings a variation of this song under the title "John Barbury," to the tune of Fause Foodrage, on her album Awkward Annie.
Pentangle has a version on both of the following albums: One More Road, released in 1993 and on Solomon's Seal, released in 2003 (recorded in 1972).
Andy Irvine sings his version again on the album Abocurragh, released in 2010.