Commentary
Verse 1: 'Now in her green mantle blythe nature arrays, / And listen the lambkins that bleat owre the braes, / While birds warble welcome in ilka green shaw; / But to me its delightless - my Nannie's awa''. This sheet was published by James Lindsay of 11 King Street, Glasgow. This ballad is a lament sung by a young man for his absent lover. Although the ballad highlights the many joys that nature can offer, it seems that the lovesick young man can no longer appreciate these joys, as he can only think about his departed lover. The advertisement at the bottom of this sheet is especially interesting, as it gives a good illustration of the diversity that a broadside publisher could offer the public. Many romantic broadside ballads such as this are held in the National Library of Scotland's collection. 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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