"The False Lover Won Back" is a Scottish ballad, cataloged as Child Ballad 218 ( Roud 201).
Francis James Child cataloged the song as Child Ballad 218, recovering two texts representing it. [1] It is also cataloged as Roud 201. [2] The song spread in some form from its origins in Scotland through England as far as the United States, although it is among the lesser-known ballads. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The song has similarities to and may share an origin with other ballads, such as Child Waters. [1] It has sometimes also been called "Young John" or "The Fause Lover." [6] [7] [8]
In the ballad, a woman pursues her lover, who is leaving her for another who is more beautiful. He begs her to forsake him, plying her with gifts, but eventually buys her a wedding gown or a wedding ring and agrees to marry her. [1] [3] [9] [10]
According to Walter Morris Hart, the ballad is somewhat unusual for its depicting a situation in which "it is the maiden who does the wooding." [11]
Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger performed the song on their 1956 album Classic Scots Ballads. [2] The song was also included as a bonus track on a reissue of Martin Carthy's 1972 album Shearwater. [2]
"The False Lover Won Back" is a Scottish ballad, cataloged as Child Ballad 218 ( Roud 201).
Francis James Child cataloged the song as Child Ballad 218, recovering two texts representing it. [1] It is also cataloged as Roud 201. [2] The song spread in some form from its origins in Scotland through England as far as the United States, although it is among the lesser-known ballads. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The song has similarities to and may share an origin with other ballads, such as Child Waters. [1] It has sometimes also been called "Young John" or "The Fause Lover." [6] [7] [8]
In the ballad, a woman pursues her lover, who is leaving her for another who is more beautiful. He begs her to forsake him, plying her with gifts, but eventually buys her a wedding gown or a wedding ring and agrees to marry her. [1] [3] [9] [10]
According to Walter Morris Hart, the ballad is somewhat unusual for its depicting a situation in which "it is the maiden who does the wooding." [11]
Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger performed the song on their 1956 album Classic Scots Ballads. [2] The song was also included as a bonus track on a reissue of Martin Carthy's 1972 album Shearwater. [2]