Made well known in folk circle by the singing of Stan Rogers on his 1976 album \u201cFogarty\u2019s Cove,\u201d it is in fact not one composed by that worthy singer; it dates to a much early time and while some people claim that it is an old Irish folk song, it is in fact a song that the best research to date shows its origins in Newfoundland and THEN it made its way to the British Isles. In the 1933 book \u201cBallads and Sea Songs of Newfoundland\u201d, collected and edited by Elisabeth Bristol Greenleaf, the song goes by the name \u201cThe Maiden Who Dwelt By The Shore\u201d and was collected from singing of Mrs. Annie Walters of Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland, in 1929, complete with melody that is what one hears Stan singing in 1976; Stan himself never claimed that he had written it but openly stated that it was a traditional Newfoundland song. There are similar stories to this song in other folk traditions but this one seems to have the most preference; the kidnapping of the virtuous young girl\/lady with the purpose of sex or even marriage, yet she outwits the villain with her charm and cleverness.<\/p>\n
Jos. Morneault<\/p>\n\n\t\t