My own version of "John Riley": An English Traditional Folk Ballad about true love and loyalty

This is my own acoustic version of English Traditional Folk Ballad "John Riley". It's the first music upload and video after a little pause, as I explained in my previous post, so I'm really grateful if you have the time to listen and if you can leave an encouraging comment here or in my channel. Trying to reignite my motivation :) You can play the video here while you keep scrolling to read. :)

Looking forward to make more music and videos again. This one has lots of pre-Raphaelite and romantic summer vibes. I really hope you enjoy it. It was mostly to showcase different instruments. And as curiosity I think this is the first video where I play guitar. I usually play it in the background of many songs, but as I'm not a proficient player it's rarely shown, and despite the simple arrangement I really like this time it had a bit more of prominence as the core of the acoustic vibe of the song.

John Riley is a traditional English folk ballad (Roud #264, Laws N42) also known as "The Broken Token" or "A Fair young main all in her garden". The ROUD classification of folk songs is a system used to catalog and index traditional songs based on their origin, themes, and variants, providing a comprehensive resource for folk music researchers and enthusiasts. Roud thus unifying "family of songs" that are related or share melody and motifs.

There are registers of the song since the XVII century though various modifications in lyrics and melody over time. and interpretations over time. It has been recorded and performed by numerous folk musicians, being one of the most popular versions is the very folk Joan Baez in 1960 and a bit more psychedelics by the Byrds (1966)
The theme of "disguised" true lover who puts her betrothed to the test, which she passes. For once this ballad has a happy ending. Though he has been missing for a long time she remains true to his memory and finally he is revealed as her true love and the couple is reunited. I always found this one very romantic and this theme is recurrent in many other folk songs.

John Riley is a rather common name and rather ubiquitous (also

In fact it is believed that this song motif takes inspiration from Homer's Odyssey in which Penelope remains faithful to her husband Ulysses, despite the rumors of his death, and fends off numerous suitors who seek her hand in marriage. He returns to Ithaca disguised as a beggar and at last they are reunited, though the "teasing" game is not shown there. A similar situation happens in Grimm's fairytale "King Thrushbeard" and "Bear Skin" where the disguise appears as a key element.

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Unlike other traditional Ballads like Greensleeves or Down by the Salley Gardens, this one has a happy ending. Though I believe it was a bit unfair to tease the lady so ;-) let's rejoice in a "happy ever after"

𝕵𝖔𝖍𝖓 𝕽𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖞 (𝕰𝖓𝖌𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖍 𝕿𝖗𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑)

Fair young maid all in her garden
Strange young man passed her by
saying fair young maid
will you marry me?
Oh no kind sir, was her reply

Oh no kind sir, I cannot marry thee
For I have a love who sails all on the sea
though he's been lost for seven years
Still no man shall marry me

What if he's some battle slain
Oh I will die when the moon doth wane
And if he's drowned in the deep salt see
Oh I'll be true to his memory

So he took the lady in his arms
gave her a kiss, then two and three
saying weep no more, my own true love
I'm your long lost John Riley
saying weep no more, my own true love
I'm your long lost John Riley

Credits

Music and Lyrics (English Traditional Song)
Arrangements and performance of this version by myself. All Rights Reserved.
Priscilla Hernandez: Lead and Backing vocals, acoustic guitar, Celtic Harp, tin and low whistle and all arrangements in this version. All Rights Reserved.
Video filmed in Navarre. Spain.

Find the 3 hidden rats (Fufunchis)

🐀🐀🐀 As in every video there are some hidden rats :) They're like the "Easter Eggs" in the video, if you spot one let me know in the comments :)

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Music and Lyrics by Priscilla Hernandez (YIDNETH) (c) 2023 Filmed in Navarre, 2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Priscilla Hernandez
singer-songwriter & illustrator
http://yidneth.com