Broadside ballad entitled 'Lurgan Braes'

Commentary

This ballad begins: 'The Summer time being in its prime, / The weather calm and clear, / My troubled mind no peace can find, / For thinking on my dear.' It was published by James Lindsay of 9 King Street, Glasgow, and includes a woodcut illustration of a small house situated in a clearing.

This particular woodcut illustration was used by Lindsay on a number of different broadsides, including one featuring the song 'Annie Laurie'. It was common practice for broadside producers to reuse their often limited stock of woodcuts. In many cases, the illustration bore little or no relation to the subject, and was merely added as a selling point.

Early ballads were dramatic or humorous narrative songs derived from folk culture that predated printing. Originally perpetuated by word of mouth, many ballads survive because they were recorded on broadsides. Musical notation was rarely printed, as tunes were usually established favourites. The term 'ballad' eventually applied more broadly to any kind of topical or popular verse.

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