Lowlands of Holland

The Lowlands of Holland (Roud 484) is a Scottish folk song in which a young woman sings about her husband, who was conscripted or "pressed" by the English[citation needed] into an Anglo-Dutch conflict in Europe or the West Indies. In 1741 James Oswald published "Collection of Curious Scots Tunes", containing "Low Lands of Holland".[1] This was without any words, but a broadside sheet, dated to 1776 is in the British Library.[2] It is the 21st catalogue entry under "Lowlands of Holland". Versions of the song exist in Ireland, Scotland and at times England, and several variants of the lyrics exist. The song variously describes the young man's conscription, the woman's grief at his death and her refusal to adorn herself or marry again, and sometimes a verse where the woman's mother advises her to find a new partner, or an account of the man's ship sinking.

Background

Several European nations used forced recruitment by various means. The best known example is the dependence of the Royal Navy on impressment as a means to supply sailors to its ships during wartime from the 17th to the early 19th centuries. "The Lowlands of Holland" probably originated during the Anglo-Dutch Wars in the 17th century, and enjoyed revivals in popularity during the Wars of Louis XIV and the Napoleonic Wars. "Lowlands" is a traditional name for Holland and the broader Low Countries, while in some versions of the song the mention of tropical vegetation suggests the title of the song refers in fact to Dutch colonies in the West Indies.

A lesser known version of the song, originating from Suffolk and probably a local adaptation, dates to the era of the Seven Years' War, fought in the Low Countries and Prussia/Silesia in the mid-eighteenth century. In this version the singer's love who is leaving is a soldier rather than a sailor; and one of the verses refers to his participation in the Battle of Minden in 1759. At this battle various British regiments advanced to meet the enemy. It is said that as they echeloned forward, the soldiers plucked wild roses from the hedgerows, and wore them in their hats, as the flowers reminded them of home.

The relevant verse of the song runs:

My love across the ocean
Wears a scarlet coat so fair,
With a musket at his shoulder
And roses in his hair.[source?]

The fresnosnate.edu website [3] mentions variants where the location has moved to Arkansas [4] and a version at Gibraltar.[5]

Modern recordings

Modern artists and groups who have recorded the song include:

See also

References

  1. ^ Oswald, James (21 February 2021). "Collection of curious Scots Tunes". Traditional Tune Archive. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Search". Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  3. ^ Fresno State. Fresnostate.edu https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/R083.html. Retrieved 25 September 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ Digital Tradition http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiLOWHOLL7%3bttLOWHOLL7.html. Retrieved 25 September 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "The Rocks o' Gibraltar (Roud 2174; G/D 6:1118)". Mainly Norfolk. Musical Traditions. Retrieved 25 September 2022.