The Lass of Roch Royal

The Lass of Roch Royal is Child ballad number 76, existing in several variants.

Synopsis

A woman comes to Gregory's castle, pleading to be let in; she is either pregnant or with a newborn son. His mother turns her away; sometimes she tells her that he went to sea, and she goes to follow him and dies in shipwreck. Gregory wakes and says he dreamed of her. He chases her, finds her body, and dies.

Variants

Alternate titles of "The Lass of Roch Royal" include "Lord Gregory", "Fair Anny", "Oh Open the Door Lord Gregory" and "Mirk Mirk".

The New-Slain Knight has, in some variants, verses identical to those of some variants of The Lass of Roch Royal, where the woman laments her baby's lack of a father.

"The Lass of Aughrim," an Irish version of "The Lass of Roch Royal," figures prominently in the story "The Dead" by James Joyce.

Also Child ballad number 216 ("The Mother's Malison") is almost identical to "The Lass of Roch Royal" only in a reversed manner, telling the story of a young man looking for his beloved.

Recordings

• "Lord Gregory" on The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell by The Corries (1965)
• "Lord Gregory" on Fifth Album by Judy Collins (1965)
• "Anne of Lochroyan", by Isla St Clair, recorded 1971 (Tangent Records)
• "Lass of Loch Royal" on Silly Sisters by Silly Sisters (1976)
• "Lord Gregory" on Peat Fire Flame by The Corries (1977)
• "Lass of Lochroyan" on New Directions in the Old by Roy Bailey (1997)
• "Lord Gregory" on "Crook of My Arm" by Alasdair Roberts (2001)
• "Lord Gregory" on Bloody Men by Steeleye Span (2006)

See also

• The Mother's Malison

External links

• Lord Gregory