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Broughty Walls

from "Rule of Thumb" by Sean Smith

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No. 258 in the Child Ballads collection, alternately titled “Burd Helen.” Scottish heiress gets carried off by presumptuous would-be suitor who – fortunately for her – lacks essential swimming skills. I slightly altered some of the lyrics and devised the tune, which I think sounds more American than Scottish, but whattaya gonna do. Some of the guitar work here may have been, or probably was, inspired by Leo Kottke.

lyrics

Burd Helen was her mother's dear
And her father's heir all for to be
And he was laird of the Broughty Walls
And the provost of Dundee

Burd Helen she was much admired
By all the men both far and near
But it was Glenhazlen who did vow
He alone would be her dear

Glenhazlen he was a comely youth
He was so handsome, brisk and gay
But jealous thoughts come unto his mind
He vowed he'd steal poor Helen away

It fell upon one Christmas Day
Burd Helen she was left alone
All for to guard her father's towers
They stood two miles all from the town

Glenhazlen he's to the Broughty Walls
He was thinking all to win in
But the wind it blew and the rain it fell
And it wet him to the skin

"Oh who is this?" cries Burd Helen
"Oh who does knock all at my door?"
"We are but travelers passing by
Let us in for the wind blows o'er."

Now he was very well entertained
Both for his bed and for his board
But he sent his men to Helen's room
Well armed they were with spear and sword

And they've hurried her along with them
They've locked up all her maids behind
They threw the key out o'er the wall
That none this plot might find

They've hurried her along with them
It's over many's the rock and glen
But all that they might say or do
From weeping she wouldn't refrain

"Oh the highland hills, they're high, high hills
Oh the highland hills, they are so high
And if you would my favor gain
Take me back to sweet Dundee!"

Well it fell upon one summer's day
When they all went out for to take the air
She's threw herself into the stream
Against wind and despair

Well it was so deep that he couldn't wade in
And ne'er the boat it was to be found
So he's leaped in all after her
And he sank down like a stone

She's kilted up her green clothing
Oh a little above her knee
And it's never rest nor was undressed
Until she reached again Dundee

"Oh this I've learned at the Broughty Walls
At Broughty Walls near sweet Dundee
That if water was my prison strong
I would swim for liberty"

credits

from "Rule of Thumb", released November 6, 2017

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Sean T. Smith Boston, Massachusetts

Sean Smith has been playing folk music since his teens, with a focus on the traditions of Ireland, Scotland and England in particular. He's been active in the Greater Boston music scene since the early '80s, and been part of numerous collaborations. He also writes about music for BostonIrish.com, helps organize an annual Celtic music festival, and has been known to drink Ballantine Ale. ... more

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