FAIR ANNIE

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!