Name: Green Grows The Laurel by Julie Henigan
Duration: 2 min 37 s
Description: I learned this traditional irish song from County Derry singer Eddie Butcher, mostly by way of the great Len Graham. The song has also been popular in the United States, but the tale of the word "gringo" as deriving from Mexicans hearing U.S. soldiers singing "Green Grow" during the Mexican-American War is apocryphal. It's a nice story, though.

Learned from the Cecil Sharp collection, this is a Virginia version of "Lord Randall."

American Stranger

John Randolph

"Pretty Polly," learned from a field recording made by Max Hunter of Donia Cooper of West Fork, Arkansas, in 1959. Though the title may remind listeners of the famous American murder ballad, this is actually a version of the Child ballad  #4, "Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight." I accompany it here with the lap dulcimer.

Pretty Polly

I learned this traditional irish song from County Derry singer Eddie Butcher, mostly by way of the great Len Graham. The song has also been popular in the United States, but the tale of the word "gringo" as deriving from Mexicans hearing U.S. soldiers singing "Green Grow" during the Mexican-American War is apocryphal. It's a nice story, though.

Green Grows The Laurel

Julie Henigan

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