Kathleen Ferrier (1912–1953) started singing professionally late; she was t… Read Full Bio ↴Kathleen Ferrier (1912–1953) started singing professionally late; she was thirty when she did her first performance as a soloist (in Händel’s ‘Messiah’). She only performed in two operas, Britten’s ‘The Rape of Lucretia’ (1946) and Gluck’s ‘Orfeo ed Eudridice’ (1947). Her rising star as a highly characteristic alto was cut short when she died at only 41; from breast cancer. Luckily, she managed to do many recordings in her too brief career, among the most treasured are Mahler’s ‘Das Lied von der Erde’ and ‘Kindertotenlieder’.

Ma Bonny Lad
Kathleen Ferrier Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Have ye seen owt o my bonnie lad,
and are ye sure he's vveel, oh?
He's gone ower land
wiv his stick in his hand,
he's gyen to moor the keel, O!

Yes, I've seen yor bonny lad,
'twas on the sea I spied him,

his grave is green, but not wee grass,

and thou'lt never lie aside him.

Overall Meaning

The song "Ma Bonny Lad" by Kathleen Ferrier is a traditional folk song that tells the story of a woman searching for her love, who has set out on the sea to moor the keel. The woman asks people if they have seen her bonny lad and if they are sure that he's well. In the second verse, someone confirms that they have seen him, but unfortunately, he has passed away, and his grave is green, but not weed-grass. The song perfectly captures the melancholic feeling of loss, heartbreak, and longing. Kathleen Ferrier's rendition adds to the emotional depth of the song, making it a quintessential folk song that touches the heartstrings of anyone who listens to it.

The song is thought to have originated in the northeast of England around 1800. It has been passed down through generations for over two centuries and has been passed from one singer to another. The song has a rich history with several versions and different variations in the lyrics. "Ma Bonny Lad" was popularized by one of Northumbria's most famous folk singers, Sheila Stewart. Interestingly, the song was also recorded by Elvis Presley in 1971 as "My Boy."

Line by Line Meaning

Have ye seen owt o my bonnie lad,
Have you seen anything of my handsome young man,

and are ye sure he's vveel, oh?
And are you certain that he is healthy and doing well?

He's gone ower land
He has gone over land

wiv his stick in his hand,
With his walking stick in his hand,

he's gyen to moor the keel, O!
He has gone to help land the ship at the wharf!

Yes, I've seen yor bonny lad,
Yes, I have seen your handsome young man

'twas on the sea I spied him,
It was on the sea that I saw him

his grave is green, but not wee grass,
He is buried in a green graveyard, but it is not a small one

and thou'lt never lie aside him.
And you will never be laid to rest beside him.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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