Son David

Son David

"Oh what's the blood, it's on your sword,
My son, David, ho son, David?
What's the blood that's on your sword,
Come promise tell me true."

"That's the blood of my grey meir [mare],
O lady Mother, hi, lady Mother,
That's the blood of my grey meir,
Because she wadnae rule by me."

"'Oh, that blood it is owre clear,
My son David, ho, son David,
That blood it is owre clear,
Come, promise, tell me true."

"Oh, that's the blood of my greyhound,
Hey, lady Mother, ho, lady Mother,
That's the blood of my greyhound,
Because it wadnae rule by me."

"Oh, that blood it is owre clear,
My son David, ho, son David,
That blood it is owre clear,
Come, promise, tell me true."

"Oh, that's blood of my brother, John,
Hey, lady Mother, ho, lady Mother,
That's the blood of my brother, John,
Because he wadnae rule by me."

"Oh, whan will you come back again,
My son David, ho son David?
Whan will you come back again?
Come, promise, tell me true."

"When the sun an the moon meets in yon glen,
Hey, lady Mother, ho, lady Mother,
Whan the sun an the moon meets in yon glen,
For I'll return again."

Francis James Child reckoned this ballad, also known as "Edward," (Child Ballad no. 13) as "one of the noblest and most sterling specimens of the popular ballad." Before Jeannie sang it for Hamish Henderson and Peter Kennedy, it was thought to have died out in Scotland, although it survived elsewhere. Jeannie's version is close to one sung by her aunt, Margaret Stewart.

This tale of fratricidal jealousy may not be for the faint of heart today, but as Jeannie's explanation makes clear, it was readily appreciated by the ballad audience of Scotland, who were familiar with the blood feuds and rivalries within and between patrilines that often gave rise to such violence.