Annotation:Auld Jew (The)

AULD JEW, THE. AKA and see "Black Headed Dearie" (Ceann Dub Oilir), "The Irish Round," "Kennington Wells." Scottish. Williamson got the tune from a 'very old' Scottish manuscript printed by Stenhouse. It was known in the Scottish Highlands as "Cuir, a Ghaoil Dileas, Tharrum do Lamh," which translates as 'Place, True Love, Thine Arm About Me'. A similar tune was apparently known to Irish harpers, according to the Scottish fiddler and composer Fraser (1816) who states that, notwithstanding their own national prejudices, on hearing his Scottish rendition they at once relinquished all claim to it "considering their own an imperfect imitation of the original." Grattan Flood (1906) claims Irish composition for the tune, dating it to the first decade of the 17th century or earlier, but indicating it was known as "The Auld Jew" in Scotland.

Recorded sources: Flying Fish FF358, Robin Williamson - "Legacy of the Scottish Harpers, vol. 1."