Annotation:Lady Cassilis' Lilt

Back to Lady Cassilis' Lilt

LADY CASSILIS'/CALLILLES LILT. AKA and see "Johnnie Faa," "[[Johnny Faa the Gypsy Laddie." Scottish, Reel. The reel is contained in the Scottish Skene Collection, a mandora book, c. 1615-1620. Robin Williamson notes that Lady Cassilis famously eloped with a handsome gypsy, which act was immortalized in a much-diseminated and popular ballad family under such names as 'Johnie Faa,' 'The Raggle Taggle Gypsies [1],' and (in America) 'Black Jack David.' He relates there is some doubt as to the event's historical accuracy, but that even the earliest versions agree as to her name. The melody became the basis for a host of popular ballads of various sorts, including Cazden's (et al, 1982) Catskill Mountain (New York) collected "The Ship's Carpenter," several Child ballads and many others, including American shape-note hymns.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources:

Recorded sources: Dorian Recordings, The Baltimore Consort - "Gut, Wind and Wire" (2006). Flying Fish Records, FF358, Robin Williamson - "Legacy of the Scottish Harpers, vol. 1" (1984. From the Skene).

See also listing at:
Hear the tune played by David-Sky Marchant (gtr.) at the Internet Archive [2]

Back to Lady Cassilis' Lilt