US & Canada Versions: 210. Bonnie James Campbell
[This ballad is rare in the US and Canada. I have 12 versions in my collection and two are from the same informant, Mrs. McGill of Canada. Combs A, possibly from Woofter, seems to be a ballad recreation and Davis AA from the Smiths is also likely a ballad recreation. The fragments from Barry (JAF 1905) and Edwards (1030s Flanders) are insignificant texts. These are the extant versions from North America with one possible version (see Davis AA) missing.
The ballad was known during the Civil War in South Carolina. Shelby Foote, in his book, The Civil War: A Narrative (Volume I: Fort Sumter to Perryville) Random House, 1958, p. 131 quotes a South Carolina lady's description in her diary of a visit to Fort Sumpter by Robert E. Lee: "Preux chevalier, booted and bridled and gallant rode he, but so far his bonnie face has only brought us ill luck."
The first published version comes from a native of Quebec taken down with music by Barry c. 1902. Below are two recorded traditional versions, both from NC.
Listen: Bascom Lamar Lunsford- Bonnie George Campbell
Listen: Frank Profitt- James Campbell
I have most of the traditional versions in my collection and the three important recordings. Missing versions will be added after the Contents listing.
Davis has written about this ballad and provides a rare version which he published in More Traditional Ballads (See: Willie Campbell- Smith (VA) 1912 Davis 1931) from an unreliable source. He mentions a version from Boyd County, KY found in the records of Federal Writer's project but as far as I know this version has not surfaced.
Barry in 1929 has reconstructed a version from the extant verses (see below) and has provided two versions from the same informant, Mrs. James McGill of New Brunswick, Canada.
Bonny George Campbell- Compilation by Barry
1 High up in Hielands and lang the sweet Tay,
Bonnie George Campbell rode out on a day.
Saddled and bridled, fu gallant was he,
Home came good horse, but never came he.
2 Wi' a plume in his bonnet, a sword at his knee
Home came good horse, but never cam he.
Toom [1] home came his saddle, all bloody to see,
Home came good horse, but never came he.
3 Out came his mither, greeting [2] full sair,
Out came his bonny bride, riving her hair.
My meadow lies green, my corn is unshorn,
My barn is to build, and my babe is unborn.
4. My meadow lies green, and my babe is unborn,
But bonnie George Campbell will never return.
High up in Hielands and low upon the Tay,
Bonny George Campbell is dead and awa'.
1. empty
2. grieving full sore
Barry's arrangement although an improvement, leaves something to be desired. This idea of arranging fragments of traditional verse to make a whole has long been the practice of ballad publishers and collections, from Scott to Buchan and from Niles to Lomax. The issue is: the full disclosure of the changes from the traditional original. Barry, for one, was above reproach on this issue.
I'm including Harlan Kinsey's western version of "George Campbell" (below) as an appendix, even though it's a composed text.
R. Matteson 2013, 2016]
CONTENTS: (Individual versions attached to this page on left hand column- click to open; also you can click on the blue highlighted text below)
1) Bonnie James Campbell- Parker (QC) 1902 Barry JAF --
2) War Song- Almeida Riddle (AR) c.1906 BK Abrahams --
3) Willie Campbell- The Smiths (VA) c.1912 Davis AA --
4) Bonnie Johnnie Campbell- Miller (WV) c.1924 Combs A--
5) Booted and Saddled- Edman (WV) c.1924 Combs B
6) Bonnie James Campbell- Strachen (OK) c1925 Moores
7) Bonny George Campbell- McGill (NB) 1928 Barry A
8) Bonnie George Campbell- McGill (NB) 1928 Barry B
9) Bonnie James Campbell- Edwards (VT) 1930 Flanders
10) Bonny George Campbell- Lunsford (NC) 1949 REC
11) James Camill- Proffitt (NC) 1960 REC Warner
12) Bonnie George Campbell- Hurst's (KY) 1960 REC
Appendix: George Campbell by Harlan Kinsey
Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America by Tristram Coffin 1950
------------------
Missing versions:
I've yet to determine if Jean Ritchie's version (found in her book) and Evelyne Anderson Beers on the recording "Gentle Art" are traditional. [Upcoming]
Davis has written in More Ballads about a version from Boyd County, KY found in the records of Federal Writer's project but as far as I know this version has not surfaced.
----------------------
Appendix
SONGS OF THE WEST- 1961
sung by Dave Fredrickson
SIDE I, Band 8: GEORGE CAMPBELL
This is Child ballad, 210 as reworked into an American setting by Harlan Kinsey of Berkeley, California. Learned almost the day it was composed. The melody is similar to "Hang Me." For a further history of the song in this country, see Coffin, 128.
George Campbell lived in Texas with his mother and his wife
George Campbell lived in Texas with his mother and his wife
Two little children to make a hard hard life.
Two little children to make a hard hard life.
Well, Georgie left his mother, his children and his wife
Georgie left his mother, his children and his wife
For to get some money to find a pleasant life,
For to get some money to find a pleasant life.
He rambled he gambled he rambled all around
He rambled he gambled he rambled all around
Till he met up with a gambler who shot the poor boy down,
He met up with a gambler who shot the poor boy down.
Two women cryin' children walkin' 'round
Two women cryin' children walkin' 'round
Waitin' for the dead man to come from the town
Waitin' for the dead man to come from the town.
Home come the saddle home come old Dan
Home come the saddle home come old Dan
Home come the saddle but never come the man
Home come the saddle but never come the man.
Who'll plough my meadow, who'll hoe my corn
Who'll plough my meadow, who'll hoe my corn?
Two little children and a baby yet unborn
Two little children and a baby yet unborn.
Georgie's mother's weepin' his wife is the same
Georgie's mother's weepin' his wife is the same
Two little children to curse the gambler's game
Two little children to curse the gambler's game.
---------------------
Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America
by Tristram Coffin 1950, from the section A Critical Biographical Study of the Traditional Ballads of North America
210. BONNIE JAMES CAMPBELL
Texts: Barry, Brit Bids Me, 279 / Combs, F-S Etats-Unis, 144 / Davis, FS Va / JAFL, XVIII, 294.
Local Titles: Bonnie George Campbell, Bonnie Johnnie Campbell, Willie Campbell.
Story Types: A: The story is lost in Britain as well as in America, so that we only know that Bonnie James Campbell rode out armed one day and that, although his saddled horse came home, he did not. His bride, mother, etc., went out to meet him, but he was never to return. The place was uncared for; his baby unborn.
Examples: Barry (A, B), Combs (A, B).
Discussion; The tale behind this ballad is unknown. Child, IV, 143 cites Motherwell's and Maidment's theories, and Barry, Brit Bids Me, 281 reconstructs the story as it stands in the known fragments.
The American texts are similar to those in Child and show a close relationship with the versions given in Smith's Scotish Minstrel, V, 42. See Barry, op. cit. 297f, Davis, More Ballads 267-268 and Worthington, Nine Rare ballads from Va 105-119 for a discussion and comparison of the American and British versions, as well as a modification of some of Child's remarks.