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The Trees They Do Grow High
Last updated: 10.03.22
I find "The trees they do grow high" to be one of the most beautiful and mournful ballads of love in English folk music. The version I sing is taken from Songs and Dances of England by Liz Thomson (1982). I love singing it and am always delighted when I can moisten a few eyes or coax an odd tear or two.
In July 2013, I came across Ireland Sings by Dominic Behan in which he made the following remark: about this song titled as Child Wedding
"I married was, a high lady to be", and again, "If better be more fit, I'll send him to the court ahile to point his pretty wit". Compare with that English Elizabethan version, the Scots "The trees are a' ivy the leaves they are green, The time is long past that I hae seen", and you'll see the terrible things go on when the drawing room tries to get nearer to the kitchen, in rooms that is. Match making, young women to old men usually, but the Irish version does an about face, after all we're not going to show our girls in a bad light.
Well said, Dominic although Liz's version also has a volte-face!
  Issue Performer
     
  DBE MP3 Sample   
audiodbemp315.gif Ditty Box Geoff Grainger
     Performer CD Title Supplier
       
cd15.gif Joan Baez Joan Baez Vol.2 CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif
cd15.gif Barry Dransfield Rout of the Blues flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif
cd15.gif Barry Dransfield Up to Now flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif
cd15.gif Geoff Grainger Ditty Box dbe15.gif
cd15.gif Benjamin Luxon I love my love flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif
cd15.gif Graham Metcalfe Songs from Yorkshire and Other Civilisations flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif
cd15.gif Pentangle Early Classics CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif