Lizie Wan

Synopsis

The heroine (called variously Lizie, Rosie or Lucy) is pregnant with her brother's child. Her brother murders her. He tries to pass off the blood as that of some animal he had killed (his greyhound, his falcon, his horse), but in the end must admit that he murdered her. He sets sail in a ship, never to return.

Parallels

This ballad, in several variants, contains most of the ballad "Edward", Child 13.

Other ballads on this theme include "Sheath and Knife", "The King's Dochter Lady Jean", and "The Bonny Hind".

In popular culture

The Ballad of Lizie Wan was the inspiration for the title song from English recording artist Kate Bush's album The Kick Inside. It is directly referenced in an early demo recording of the song in the second verse: "You and me on the bobbing knee / Welling eyes from identifying with Lizie Wan's story." The final version of the song replaces the direct reference and describes the ballad as "old mythology."

A dark ambient version of the song, titled "Lucy Wan," appeared on the 1993 album Murder Ballads (Drift) by Martyn Bates and Mick Harris. Oli Steadman included it on his song collection "365 Days Of Folk".

References

References

1. "Lizie Wan / Lucy Wan / Fair Lizzie (Roud 234; Child 51)".
2. Francis James Child, ''The English and Scottish Popular Ballads'', v 1, p 167, Dover Publications, New York 1965
3. Francis James Child, ''The English and Scottish Popular Ballads'', v 1, p 185, Dover Publications, New York 1965
4. XxXscarletsatineXxX. (17 September 2007). "Kate Bush - The Kick Inside".
5. "Eclipse Review: M.J. Harris & Martyn Bates - Murder Ballads (1994−1998)".
6. "365 Days Of Folk: Song List".