Bonnie James Campbell- Strachen (OK) 1925 Moore
[My date. Collected by the Moore's and published in Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwest; 1964.
Mary Strachen of Tulsa, OK was born in Baniffshire, Scotland. Her family moved to Ontario and then relocated in Tulsa in 1925. This was probably collected by the Moores in the 1940s. Mary learned this version from her parents.
R. Matteson 2013]
Bonnie James Campbell- Mary Strachen of Tulsa OK; pre1925.
Oh, it's up in Highlands
And down the sweet Tay,
Did bonnie James Campbell
Ride monie a day.
Saddled and bridled,
And bonnie rode he,
Home came his saddle, hame came his horse,
But ne'er hame came he.
And down came his sweet sisters,
Greeling sae sair [1],
Out came his bonnie wife,
Tearing her hair.
My horse is un brigged
My barn is unbenned,
My corn is unshorn
And my meadow grows green.
1. Grieving so sore