“Black Is the Colour of My True Love’s Hair” is a conventional lament with mystical origins. Thought to have actually come from Scotland, as the River Clyde is referenced in the lyrics, the tune made its method to America in the late 19th or early 20th century with Scottish and Irish immigrants. In 1916, English folklorist Cecil Sharp gathered it from Lizzie Roberts in North Carolina and released it in the
book English Folk Songs from the Southern AppalachiansJohn Jacob Niles, a ballad vocalist and collector, made up the tune commonly utilized today.
I initially heard “Black Is the Colour” through vocalist Jessica Ruby Radcliffe’s variation, including Martin Simpson on guitar. Radcliffe discovered the tune from her household, affected by Burl Ives’ 1944 recording. I tape-recorded it with Shanti Deschaine and the band Arborea on our 2011 album, Red Planetand once again for my solo album One Evening and Other Folk Songs (2024 ), including my better half, Adele, motivated by Nina Simone’s 1959 performance.
This solo guitar plan carefully follows the singing tune as heard on Red Planet and Radcliffe’s variation. I advise dedicating the tune to memory before resolving the transcription. The tune is a lament, carried out in the design of an Irish sluggish air, so take it gradually, making every note count to communicate the tune’s brooding state of mind.
In the accompanying video, observe how I speed and sustain a lot of the notes, utilizing sluggish, subtle vibrato, as if I were singing. The guitar is tuned to DADGAD with a capo at the 4th fret, triggering it to sound in the secret of F# small, though the tune can quickly be played without the capo. The objective is to highlight the haunting charm and ageless quality that has actually enabled this tune to withstand for generations.
