FAIR ANNIE

Composer: Traditional | Arranger: Lindsay Straw | Key: F (D w/ capo 3) | Tuning: Drop D

It's rare to find traditional songs that feature multiple female characters. When they do, they almost always seem to be of the "Cruel Sister" murder ballad variety. That's why I especially love this tale of sisterly love and support from the songbook My Song Is My Own. According to the book's notes, unmarried relationships often co-existed with marriage and were legally recognized in Scotland until the 13th century. I took a heavy arranging hand on this one while trying to preserve the story arc - cutting verses, editing verse structure, and making significant alterations to the melody. There are a handful of renditions out there, but none sound quite like this one!

Back in 2015 I released this song on my album Fairest Flower of Womankind. Check it out on all streaming platforms and Bandcamp!