| “ | High upon highlands, and low upon Tay, Bonnie George Campbell rode out on a day. Saddled and bridled, so gallant rode he, Home came his good horse, but never came he. |
” |
"Bonnie George Campbell", also known as "Bonnie James Campbell," is Child ballad 210 (Roud 338).[1] The ballad tells of man who has gone off to fight, but only his horse returns. The name differs across variants. Several names have been suggested as the inspiration of the ballad: Archibald or James Campbell, in the Battle of Glenlivet, or Sir John Campbell of Calder, who was murdered.[2][3][4]
The song is performed in the 2004 film adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events, specifically during the segment correlating to The Reptile Room.
Lyrics[]
- High upon Highlands,
- and laigh upon Tay.
- Bonnie George Campbell
- rode out on a day.
- He saddled, he bridled,
- and gallant rode he.
- And hame cam his guid horse,
- but never cam he.
- Out cam his mother dear,
- greeting fu sair.
- Out cam his bonnie bryde,
- riving her hair.
- "The meadow lies green,
- and the corn is unshorn.
- But Bonnie George Campbell
- will never return."
- Saddled and bridled
- and booted rode he,
- A plume in his helmet,
- a sword at his knee.
- But toom cam his saddle
- all bloody to see.
- Oh, hame cam his guid horse,
- but never cam he.[5]
Usage in A Series of Unfortunate Events[]
|
I am NOT a MONKEY!
The following article or section concerns information that is considered even less canonical than the chance of a happy ending. Any information following should not be used as a source for the canon of the book series. |
After the adoption of the Baudelaire children, Monty Montgomery performs the song for them while Petunia snakes up his arm. The final verse is heard:
- High upon highlands, and low upon Tay,
- Bonnie George Campbell rode out on a day.
- Saddled and bridled, so gallant rode he,
- Home came his good horse, but never came he.
As he finished, Violet Baudelaire remarks that she has a vague recollection of the song, thinking that her parents sung it to her.[6] This could imply it has some form of connection to VFD or its members in that continuity, or that it takes the place of "The Little Snicket Lad"[7] in Violet's past.
Gallery[]
Sources[]
- ↑ Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Roud 338 entry.
- ↑ Bonnie George Campbell. Retrieved on 11 February 2012.
- ↑ Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll fought in the 1594 Battle of Glenlivet, though he died in 1638.
- ↑ Wikipedia Page
- ↑ Child's Ballads/210. Retrieved on 19 July 2017.
- ↑ FILM: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
- ↑ PROSE: The Slippery Slope