Bonny George Campbell- McGill (NB) 1928 Barry A
[From British Ballads from Maine; Barry, Eckstorm, Smyth, 1929. Barry's A version was taken from recitation. The text is "Bonny George Campbell" throughout (instead of Bonnie George Campbell). McGill's text is almost exactly Child C. One of the problems with Barry's collecting was that he showed the informants published versions of Child texts in order to prompt their memory. The informant was showed the Child C text in 1927 and commented, "The C text was just like her song except she substituted 'mither' for the word 'mother.' "
McGill sent a second text in to Barry (B) where she tried to remember all missing fragments. McGill had not heard this sung only "hummed over like a rhyme." [BBM]
The Tay (second line) is a river in Scotland flowing down from the Highlands into the North Sea at Perth.
R. Matteson 2013]
Bonny George Campbell- Mrs. James McGill (NB) 1928 Barry A From recitation.
1 High upon Highlands,
And low upon Tay,
Bonny George Campbell
Rode out on a day.
2 Saddled and bridled,
And bitted [1]rode he,
Home came his saddle,
But never cam [2] he.
3 Out cam his mither dear,
Greetin' [3] full sair,
And out cam his bonny bride,
Riving her hair.
4 The meadow lies green,
And the corn is unshorn,
But bonny George Campbell
Will never return.
My Footnotes:
1. A bit, usually made of metal or a synthetic material, is placed in the mouth of a horse.
2. Scottish cam=came. Inexplicably, the first cam is written came in the previous line.
3. Greetin' full sair= grieving full sorely