For Love by Willie Mathieson
[From Collection - School of Scottish Studies; Track ID - 15020; Original Tape ID - SA1952.002
Listen: http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/play/15020;jsessionid=9AA340DD3D5A4D6DCDEA32656021217A
Online location: http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/15020/2
This is a version of "Will Ye Gang, Love" with the last 5 stanzas and the title taken from "Died for Love." The second stanza is taken from "Picking Lillies," a version of "The Unfortunate Swain." In Mathieson's online recording he sings the fourth verse out-of-order which is not reflected in the MS transcription.
R. Matteson 2017]
Summary - The singer saw her lover standing at the stable door combing his hair. His lovely hair enticed her. She will not give his name. She has picked the roses and violets but didn't realize how painful love could be. She has seen him go off to another. When she was young and slender he followed her but now she is pregnant he has left her for a richer girl, who she says will get the same treatment that she has received. She will go to Aberdeen and snub him but she will not tell his name. When she dies she wishes her grave dug wide and deep, with a turtle dove at her head and feet. The song's refrain laments that he is leaving her for someone he has never known.
For Love- sung by Willie Mathieson (1879-1958) of Ellon, Aberdeenshire about 1894. Willie learned it from Annie Massie, a maid at East Toddlehills. This is a version of "Will Ye Gang Love" with 5 stanzas and the title from the "Died for Love" songs.
My lovie stands in yon stable door
A combing doon his yellow hair.
His curly locks they enticed me
But I'll never tell you who is he.
Chorus: Oh will ye gang love and leave noo
Oh will ye gang love and leave me noo
Will ye forsake a lover true
And go with the one ye never knew.
I was in the garden the other day
I pulled a rose baith fresh and gay,
I pulled the violets as they grew blue
But I little kent[1] what love can do.
I was standing at the door one day
I saw my love go across the moor
My heart grew sick and my eyes grew dim
To think my bonnie love left me ahin
As lang as my apron it did bide low
He followed me through frost and snow
But noo its up aye tae my chin
My love gangs by but he comes nae in.
There is a Tavern in the toon
My love gaes in and he sits him doon
He taks anither girl on his knee
And isna that a grief to me.
A grief to me and I'll tell you why
Because this girl has more gold than I.
But her gold it will waste and her beauty fade
And this poor girl she will be like me.
But I'll tak aff my hose and sheen
And I'll follow him through Aberdeen,
But I'll scorn him as he scorned me
But I'll never tell you who is he.
You'll dig my grave both wide and deep
Put a marble stone at my head and feet
And in the centre two turtle doves
To let them know that I died for love.
1. "know" from Scots kenned, kenning, and kent also ken