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about

A young woman outwits the Lord of Elf-land, which may be a euphemism for The Devil. This is one of the great 'courting riddle' songs of the Scots tradition. Elspeth put it together from The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, but you will also find it as The Elfin Knight, Child Ballad 2, and other variants. The riddles and tasks are clearly in the same tradition as Rosemary Fair. Listen to Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel singing Scarborough Fair, and the canticle woven into it, and you will immediately see the connection.

lyrics

THE LAIRD O' ELFIN

credits

from Lullabee: A sampler of a cappella songs from Elspeth Cowie, track released January 1, 2000
Traditional, arranged Elspeth Cowie

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all rights reserved

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about

Elspeth Cowie Spain

Elspeth Cowie is a leading singer of folk and traditional songs, notably from Scotland, but also Americana. Her life and musical journey has spanned many places, genres, and decades. This shows in the arrangements she produces across, and sometimes fusing, genres. "If a song's got soul, it's worth singing whatever the label on it," she says. "Why paint with just one colour?" ... more

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