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Claudy Banks

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Alternative title: Cloddy Banks

Place Collected: Winchcombe
Date collected: 1908 (8 Apr)
Collector: Grainger, Percy
Roud Number: 266

A song found all over the English speaking world and a good example of a genre known as ‘broken token’ in which the lover returns from overseas and is not immediately recognised by the girl. The Copper family from Sussex have popularised their version in the folk revival, but we are reminded with Mr Lane’s version that other tunes are available. Claudy may refer to a village of that name in County Londonderry, but there is no real evidence for that assertion.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 28 March 2015