293: John of Hazelgreen

John of Hazelgreen Child 293 Roud 250

Number of versions in : Child 4, Bronson 28

This version, apparently unique as a broadside, appears on the Bodleian Broadside Ballad website, Firth Collection b26 (534). It was printed by Webb and Millington of Leeds c1840 and is very obviously taken from oral tradition. Cattle drovers used to come down from Scotland at that time, or the chapmen who sold these printed ballads often moved around a lot, or it could simply have come from someone who had tried to find work further south. There is no hint in it that the ballad came from Scotland, but then there was very little Scots language in the earlier Scottish versions. We only know it is Scottish from the placenames mentioned in the presumed earlier versions.

HAZLE GREEN

1 As I walked one evening all for to take the air,

I heard a charming fair maid heave a sigh and a tear,

I drew a little nigher to her to hear what she could mean,

And all that she lamented for was Willey of Hazle Green.

2 What ails you, what ails you, my charming maid, that you mourn so near the tide,

You might be a bed-fellow to either lord or king,

So cheer up your heart, my charming maid, and come along with me,

I'll marry you to my eldest son, and happy you shall be.

3 When there you will get nothing but mistress or madam,

So cheer up your heart, my charming maid, and come away to him;

For to be called mistress or madam my breeding is so mean,

I'd far rather be a bride to Willey of Hazle Green.

4 What is he, what is he, this Hazle Green, I wish I could see him,

He is one of the cleverest young men that ever your eyes did see,

His arms long, his shoulders broad, he is fair to be seen,

And his hair hangs down like links of gold, and he's my Hazle Green.

5 O I am that Hazle's father that's come to look for thee,

He mounted her on a milk-white steed, himself on a silver grey,

And there they road (sic) along the road the length of a long summer's day,

Until they came unto a fine building wherein the young man dwelt,

Outslipt a clever and clean young man, and his name was Hazle Green,

he kiss'd her once, he kiss'd her twice, before he set her down,

And now she is wed to her own true love, sweet Willey of Hazle green.

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The change of name, in this case from John to Willey, is quite common in oral tradition.

It is obvious that the reciter had not got a clear grasp of the text and was part remembering, part recomposing as the printer or his hack was taking it down. It would have been very difficult to sing this version with such irregular rhythm, and the lack of rhyme is also a giveaway.

In no other versions does the father reveal who he is. In earlier oral versions when they get back to Hazelgreen we are led to believe the appearance of John is a complete surprise and the father's identity has been kept a secret.