Burd Ellen and Young Tamlane
Encyclopedia
Burd Ellen and Young Tamlane is Child ballad number 28.
Despite similarity in names, it appears to have no connection with Tam Lin
, nor with the tale of Childe Rowland
, though they both have characters named Burd Ellen; indeed, Francis James Child
was unable to connect this ballad with any other tradition or ballad.
The ballad is quite probably fragmentary in its current form.
Despite similarity in names, it appears to have no connection with Tam Lin
Tam Lin
Tam Lin is the hero of a legendary ballad originating from the Scottish Borders. The story revolves around the rescue of Tam Lin by his true love from the Queen of the Fairies...
, nor with the tale of Childe Rowland
Childe Rowland
"Childe Rowland" is a fairy tale, the most popular version being by Joseph Jacobs in his English Folk and Fairy Tales, published in 1892, and written partly in verse and part in prose.-Synopsis:...
, though they both have characters named Burd Ellen; indeed, Francis James Child
Francis James Child
Francis James Child was an American scholar, educator, and folklorist, best known today for his collection of folk songs known as the Child Ballads. Child was Boylston professor of rhetoric and oratory at Harvard University, where he produced influential editions of English poetry...
was unable to connect this ballad with any other tradition or ballad.
The ballad is quite probably fragmentary in its current form.
Synopsis
Burd Ellen is weeping. Young Tamlane tells her to rock her son. She tells him to rock the child himself, she has done more than her share. Instead, he goes to sea, with her curse.External links
- Burd Ellen and Young Tamlane with commentary