Jean Redpath: Recalling Her Passion For Scotland And Its Folk Songs

On this day in 1937 the renowned Scots folk singer, Jean Redpath was born in Edinbrough, United Kingdom. She was a Medieval scholar who focused on Scottish studies and developed a special interest in folklore and music. She came to California to start a singing career that quickly blossomed into tours on the concert circuit and studio recording from 1971 until her death in 2014. She played in smaller venues in the Unitd States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia.

Between 1974 and 1987 her audience grew by millions through her many performances as a regular on Garrison Keiler's radio program, Prairie Home Companion. She also became well-known through her collaboration with composer, Serge Hovey, and the release of their collection of songs by Robert Burns. Here are two of the better known songs from Redpath's vast repertoire.

Green Grow The Rashes

1783

Chor. - Green grow the rashes, O;

Green grow the rashes, O;

The sweetest hours that e'er I spend,

Are spent amang the lasses, O.

There's nought but care on ev'ry han',

In ev'ry hour that passes, O:

What signifies the life o man,

An' 'twere na for the lasses, O.

Green grow, &c.

The war'ly race may riches chase,

An' riches still may fly them, O;

An' tho' at last they catch them fast,

Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them, O.

Green grow, &c.

But gie me a cannie hour at e'en,

My arms about my dearie, O;

An' war'ly cares, an' war'ly men,

May a.gae tapsalteerie, O!

Green grow, &c.

For you sae douce, ye sneer at this;

Ye're nought but senseless asses, O:

The wisest man the warl' e'er saw,

He dearly lov'd the lasses, O.

Green grow, &c.

Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears

Her noblest work she classes, O:

Her prentice han' she try'd on man,

An' then she made the lasses, O.

Green grow, &c.

Corn Rigs

1783

It was upon a Lammas night,

When corn rigs are bonie,

Beneath the moon's unclouded light,

I held awa to Annie;

The time flew by, wi' tentless heed,

Till, 'tween the late and early,

Wi' sma persuasion she agreed

To see me thro' the barley.

Corn rigs, an' barley rigs,

An' corn rigs are bonie:

I'll ne'er forget that happy night,

Amang the rigs wi' Annie.

The sky was blue, the wind was still,

The moon was shining clearly;

I set her down, wi' right good will,

Amang the rigs o' barley:

I ken't her heart was a' my ain;

I lov'd her most sincerely;

I kiss'd her owre and owre again,

Amang the rigs o' barley.

Corn rigs, an' barley rigs, &c.

I lock'd her in my fond embrace;

Her heart was beating rarely:

My blessings on that happy place,

Amang the rigs o' barley!

But by the moon and stars so bright,

That shone that hour so clearly!

She aye shall bless that happy night

Amang the rigs o' barley.

Corn rigs, an' barley rigs, &c.

I hae been blythe wi' comrades dear;

I hae been merry drinking;

I hae been joyfu' gath'rin gear;

I hae been happy thinking:

But a' the pleasures e'er I saw,

Tho' three times doubl'd fairly,

That happy night was worth them a',

Amang the rigs o' barley.

Beginning in the late 1980s she returned more and more to her role as a scholar by holding several positions as a visiting lecturer in music, folklore, and cultural history at several universities in Scotland and the United States.

Learn more details about Jean Repath in this obituary which appeared in The Guardian in 2014.