Synopsis

A woman comes to Gregory's castle, pleading to be let in; she is either pregnant or with a newborn son. His mother turns her away; sometimes she tells her that he went to sea, and she goes to follow him and dies in shipwreck. Gregory wakes and says he dreamed of her. He chases her, finds her body, and dies.

Variants

Alternate titles of "The Lass of Roch Royal" include "Lord Gregory", "Fair Anny", "Oh Open the Door Lord Gregory" and "Mirk Mirk".
The New-Slain Knight

The New-Slain Knight

-Synopsis:A man tells a woman that he has seen a knight murdered outside her father's garden. She insists on a description and laments that she has no father for her baby. He offers to take her love's place, and she refuses. He pulls off his disguise and reveals himself as her love, and assures...

has, in some variants, verses identical to those of some variants of The Lass of Roch Royal, where the woman laments her baby's lack of a father.
Also Child ballad number 216 ("The Mother's Malison

The Mother's Malison

-Synopsis:Willie, against his mother's advice, goes to May Margaret's home, where he is not admitted. He drowns in the Clyde. May Margaret wakes and says she dreamed of him. Her mother tells her that he had been there half an hour before...

") is almost identical to "The Lass of Roch Royal" only in a reversed manner, telling the story of a young man looking for his beloved.

Recordings

• "Lord Gregory" on The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell
  The Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell
  - Line-Up :*Roy Williamson *Ronnie Browne *Bill Smith *Paddie Bell Note: Acoustic guitars, mandolin and bandurra are also heard but no credits are given....
  
   by The Corries
  The Corries
  The Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. Although the group was a trio in the early days, it was as the partnership of Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne that it is best known.-Early years:...
  
   (1965)
• "Lord Gregory" on Fifth Album
  Fifth Album (Judy Collins album)
  Fifth Album was an album by Judy Collins, released in 1965. It peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts.It featured a collection of traditional ballads and singer-songwriter material from Bob Dylan, Richard Fariña, Phil Ochs and Malvina Reynolds...
  
   by Judy Collins
  Judy Collins
  Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
  
   (1965)
• "Anne of Lochroyan", by Isla StClair, recorded 1971 (Tangent Records)
• "Lass of Loch Royal" on Silly Sisters
  Silly Sisters (album)
  Silly Sisters is a 1976 album by English folk singers Maddy Prior and June Tabor, their first collaborative effort as a duo. The pair later adopted the Silly Sisters name for subsequent projects.-Track listing:#"Doffin' Mistress"...
  
   by Silly Sisters
  Silly Sisters (band)
  The Silly Sisters is the name of the English folk music duo, formed by Maddy Prior and June Tabor. Initially they performed together under their own names, and as such released their first album, Silly Sisters, later taking this name as the name of their duo. As such they released a subsequent...
  
   (1976)
• "Lord Gregory" on Peat Fire Flame
  Peat Fire Flame
  Peat Fire Flame is an album recorded in 1977 by The Corries, a Scottish folk group. The combolin is heard to advantage on "Come By the Hills". Williamson and Ronnie Browne are heard on the vocals. There is multi-tracking to include both men on guitars, Northumbrian pipes, harmonicas, whistles,...
  
   by The Corries
  The Corries
  The Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. Although the group was a trio in the early days, it was as the partnership of Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne that it is best known.-Early years:...
  
   (1977)
• "Lord Gregory" on "Crook of My Arm" by Alasdair Roberts (2001)
• "Lord Gregory" on Bloody Men
  Bloody Men (album)
  Bloody Men is the 20th studio album by the British electric folk band Steeleye Span.This album represents a continuation of the band's recent surge of activity...
  
   by Steeleye Span
  Steeleye Span
  Steeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
  
  (2006)

External links

• Lord Gregory