Jean Redpath MBE (born 28 April 1937 in Edinburgh, Scotland; died 21 August… Read Full Bio ↴Jean Redpath MBE (born 28 April 1937 in Edinburgh, Scotland; died 21 August 2014 in Arizona, USA) was a Scottish folk singer, educator and musician. Internationally regarded as a pre-eminent interpreter of Scots song, Redpath took the ballads of her home country, and particularly the songs of Robert Burns, onto stages from the Lincoln Center, New York, to Sydney Opera House, and from Alaska to South America and Hong Kong.
Redpath was born in Edinburgh, to musical parents. Her mother knew many Scots songs and passed them on to all four of her daughters; her father played the hammer dulcimer. She was raised in Fife, Scotland, and later returned to Edinburgh, taking medieval studies at the university. Hamish Henderson was working in the School of Scottish Studies and Redpath took a keen interest in the archive of tapes and discs of music and songs. To help pay her way through her studies, she worked as a driving instructor and undertaker's assistant. She learned about 400 songs, together with the oral folklore that went with them.
In March 1961, at the age of 24, she went to the United States. Her first performance was in San Francisco. Later she met up with Rambling Jack Elliott and Bob Dylan in Greenwich Village. The natural warmth and power of her voice brought her to perform at Gerde's Folk City. In 1963, following a concert performance, she signed up with Elektra Records. In 1975 she switched to the Philo label. From 1972 to 1976 Jean was artist-in-residence at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She lectured in folklore and gave talks in schools.
In 1976 Redpath was embarked on a project to record all the songs of Robert Burns. Some being folk songs, some Burns' own compositions, and most a mixture of the two. Twenty-two volumes were planned, but when her collaborator, the composer Serge Hovey died after seven volumes, it came to a premature end. Hovey did the instrumental arrangements for 323 songs, and Redpath felt that no other musician could replace him. The albums won critical praise from around the world. In 1986 she recorded "Lady Nairne," a collection of songs written by Scottish women. She has sensitively reconstructed many songs that might otherwise have been lost.
Between 1974 and 1987, Redpath appeared regularly on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" radio show from NPR. She has also appeared on Robert J. Lurtsema's "Morning Pro Musica" from WGBH in Boston.
She has toured throughout the U.S. and to Canada, and played venues in South America, Hong Kong, and Australia, including the Sydney Opera House, and has performed often at the Edinburgh Folk Festival. In 1977, Redpath appeared at a royal banquet at Edinburgh Castle for Queen Elizabeth II, during Royal Jubilee Year. In spite of all her musical success, she has never had formal musical training.
From 1979 Redpath was a lecturer at the University of Stirling, Scotland, occasionally making a sojourn to Wesleyan University. For ten years she gave courses in Scottish Song at the "Heritage of Scotland" Summer School at Stirling University.
She was awarded the MBE, as well as being named a "Kentucky Colonel" by the Governor of Kentucky. A portrait of Redpath by Alexander Fraser hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.
In 1996 she launched the Burns International Festival.
In 2009, Redpath made an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, singing "Some Kind of Love" by the late John Stewart of the Kingston Trio.
Redpath was born in Edinburgh, to musical parents. Her mother knew many Scots songs and passed them on to all four of her daughters; her father played the hammer dulcimer. She was raised in Fife, Scotland, and later returned to Edinburgh, taking medieval studies at the university. Hamish Henderson was working in the School of Scottish Studies and Redpath took a keen interest in the archive of tapes and discs of music and songs. To help pay her way through her studies, she worked as a driving instructor and undertaker's assistant. She learned about 400 songs, together with the oral folklore that went with them.
In March 1961, at the age of 24, she went to the United States. Her first performance was in San Francisco. Later she met up with Rambling Jack Elliott and Bob Dylan in Greenwich Village. The natural warmth and power of her voice brought her to perform at Gerde's Folk City. In 1963, following a concert performance, she signed up with Elektra Records. In 1975 she switched to the Philo label. From 1972 to 1976 Jean was artist-in-residence at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She lectured in folklore and gave talks in schools.
In 1976 Redpath was embarked on a project to record all the songs of Robert Burns. Some being folk songs, some Burns' own compositions, and most a mixture of the two. Twenty-two volumes were planned, but when her collaborator, the composer Serge Hovey died after seven volumes, it came to a premature end. Hovey did the instrumental arrangements for 323 songs, and Redpath felt that no other musician could replace him. The albums won critical praise from around the world. In 1986 she recorded "Lady Nairne," a collection of songs written by Scottish women. She has sensitively reconstructed many songs that might otherwise have been lost.
Between 1974 and 1987, Redpath appeared regularly on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" radio show from NPR. She has also appeared on Robert J. Lurtsema's "Morning Pro Musica" from WGBH in Boston.
She has toured throughout the U.S. and to Canada, and played venues in South America, Hong Kong, and Australia, including the Sydney Opera House, and has performed often at the Edinburgh Folk Festival. In 1977, Redpath appeared at a royal banquet at Edinburgh Castle for Queen Elizabeth II, during Royal Jubilee Year. In spite of all her musical success, she has never had formal musical training.
From 1979 Redpath was a lecturer at the University of Stirling, Scotland, occasionally making a sojourn to Wesleyan University. For ten years she gave courses in Scottish Song at the "Heritage of Scotland" Summer School at Stirling University.
She was awarded the MBE, as well as being named a "Kentucky Colonel" by the Governor of Kentucky. A portrait of Redpath by Alexander Fraser hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.
In 1996 she launched the Burns International Festival.
In 2009, Redpath made an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, singing "Some Kind of Love" by the late John Stewart of the Kingston Trio.
Lady Mary Ann
Jean Redpath Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Jean Redpath:
Address to the Woodlark O stay, sweet warbling woodlark, stay, Nor quit for me…
Behold Behold, my love, how green the groves, The primrose banks…
Bonnie Galloway Wha but lo'e the bonnie hills, Wha bur lo'es the shinin'…
Cauld Kail in Aberdeen Cauld kail in Aberdeen And castocks in Strabogie But yet I f…
Charlie's Landing There cam a wee boatie owre the sea, Wi' the winds…
Dancing at Whitsun It's fifty long springtimes since she was a bride, But still…
Dark Eyed Molly Deep and dark are my true love's eyes Blacker still is…
Duncan Davison There was a lass, they ca'd her Meg, And she held…
Here Altho' my back be at the wa', And tho' he…
Hey Ca'thro Up wi' the carls o' Dysart, And the lads o' Buckhaven, And…
I -I'll aye ca' in by yon town, And by yon…
I'll Ay Ca' in by Yon Town -I'll aye ca' in by yon town, And by yon…
My Collie Laddie "Whare live ye, my bonie lass? And tell me what they…
My Love She Behold, my love, how green the groves, The primrose banks…
Nine Inch Will Please A Lady "Come rede me, dame, come tell me, dame, "My dame come…
O Hap and rowe the feetie o't …
Tam Glen My heart is a-breaking, dear Tittie, Some counsel unto me…
The Gairdner Child Proud Maisrie stands at her faither's door As straight's a w…
The Lea-Rig When o'er the hill the eastern star Tells bughtin time is…
The Ploughman The Ploughman he's a bony lad, His mind is ever true,…
The Reel o Hap and rowe the feetie o't …
The Winter It Is Past The winter it is past, and the summer's come at last and…
Thou Hast Left Me Ever Thou hast left me ever, Jamie, Thou hast left me…
Wee Bird Cam' Tae My Apron Redpath Jean Miscellaneous A Wee Bird Cam Tae My Apron A WEE…
Wha is That at my Bower Door? Wha is that at my bower-door?" "O wha is it…
Will Ye Go To The Indies Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary, And leave…
Will Ye No Come Back Again Bonnie Charlie's noo awa' Safely o'er the friendly main, Mon…
Willie O rattlin' roarin ' Willie Oh he held to the fair An'…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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sandra morey
Another Watersons fan here. I found Jean and went to her concerts before I found the Watersons. Love them all. RIP Jean. Your songs live on as we
continue to sing them ourselves.
Larry Grant
This is literally one of the nicest things I have ever heard in my life. Lady Mary Ann is a beautiful melody to begin with, and Jean Redpath's voice does it perfect justice, but the way the sparse piano accompaniment weaves around and compliments the melody is absolutely perfect and is a masterclass in arranging. I can listen to this 10 times in a row and it gets me right in the feels every time.
Katharine Pollard
Jean Redpath is a treasure much like Julie Andrews...Jean could only have come from the heart of that wonderful Scottish musical culture where the young are all encouraged to sing and play as a part of life. Gentile soft well spoken verses...behind which is dedicated practice, a full knowledge of the English language all tied up with a good sense of humor and a good sense of self. No pride, no arrogance, just lots of humility and talent. Katharine
Tom Preston
To me this is the prettiest arrangement ever of a great piece, sung by one of the very best. Really haunting the way each verse ends on the fourth (I think that's how you say it). Thanks for putting it up.
KamaCassie
Pure and beautiful.
brightphoebus
Lovely, and beautiful slideshow too.
brawladdie1
Yes, the full version is very sad. The truncated version is more enigmatic but still beautiful. Jean Redpath has that kind of reassuring, maternal voice that must have accompanied many a Scottish bairn's journey into sleep via a lullaby. Her Fife lilt reminds me of my relatives from Leven. In the 60's, she shared a New York apartment with Bob Dylan who pinched and adapted many of her tunes, e.g 'The Times They Are A-Changing', 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall' - never properly acknowledged.
brawladdie1
Yes, I'm only going by information in one of the biographies of Dylan that I've read, but the truth of it seems to click. The Clancy Brothers get lots of credit for their Irish musical influence on Saint Bob, but I don't think the other connection is generally known. Maybe it was partly behind St Andrews University awarding him an honorary doctorate in 2004.
murry cohen
What other connection are you referring to? How did Dylan influence The Clancy Brothers? They began singing before Dylan even reached New York. Liam Clancy (whose girlfriend was a sister of Dylan's) constantly alluded to Dylan's "adaptation" of Clancy Brothers songs ("The Patriots' Game", "Brennen on the Moor").
KamaCassie
@brightphoebus love the watersons. i was was just watching the north country maid video :)