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Death in the Yarrow Valley

Lori Watson shares the border ballad 'The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow'.

The 'Dowie Dens o' Yarrow' is a border ballad collected by Walter Scott and published in his 'Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border' in 1802. Singer and ethnologist Lori Watson has unearthed an alternative version of the ballad which was sung by Margaret Laidlaw, the mother of the writer James Hogg. Lori explains why this version of the tragic song offers more meaning for her as she stands under the James Hogg statue in the Yarrow Valley.

Written and Presented by Lori Watson
Produced by Helen Needham
Mixed by Ron McCaskill

A 大象传媒 Audio Scotland Production made in Aberdeen for 大象传媒 Radio 3

Available now

14 minutes

Broadcast

  • Thu 27 Jun 2024 21:45

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