Wilder Music Room At Rocky Ridge Farm
On a recent visit to Rocky Ridge Farm, I made note of the 78 rpm record that was on the electrola in the Wilder music room. According to the tour guide, the record was one of Laura’s favorite songs. The name of the record was “Annie Laurie,” sung by Irish Tenor John McCormack. The record was on the Victor 78 rpm Red Label. I found the actual recording on YouTube and the person who posted the recording says: “According to victor.library.ucsb.edu, it was recorded on March 4, 1910.” Here is the link to the Victor site with the info on the recording.
Lady John Scott (1810-1900) claimed authorship of the song.
Lady John Scott version
The earliest known version by Lady John was published by James Lindsay of Glasgow and is shown below:
Maxwelton’s braes are bonnie,
Where early fa’s the dew,
‘Twas there that Annie Laurie
Gi’ed me her promise true.
Gi’ed me her promise true -
Which ne’er forgot will be,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I’d lay me down and dee.
Her brow is like the snaw-drift,
Her neck is like the swan,
Her face it is the fairest,
That ‘er the sun shone on.
That ‘er the sun shone on -
And dark blue is her e’e,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I’d lay me down and dee.
Like dew on gowans lying,
Is the fa’ o’ her fairy feet,
And like winds, in simmer sighing,
Her voice is low and sweet.
Her voice is low and sweet -
And she’s a’ the world to me;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I’d lay me down and dee.
Notes:
* braes (a brae is a sloping bank of a river or sea-shore; a hill-slope)[1]
* bonnie means pretty
* fa’s means falls
* gi’ed means gave
* dee means die
* snaw means snow
* e’e means eyes
* gowans are daisies
* o is of
* simmer means summer
* a is all
Just love this kind of trivia!
Thanks for finding the recording on youtube and the further information about the song.
BTW: When you close your eyes while listening, you can hear Almanzo fiddle with his newspaper in the neighbouring parlour.
Yes, thank you for posting this!