Lowlands of Holland

The Lowlands of Holland (Roud 484) is a Scottish folk song in which a young woman sings about her husband, who was conscripted or "pressed" by the English into an Anglo-Dutch conflict in the West Indies. Versions of the song exist in Ireland, Scotland and at times England, and several variants of the lyrics exist. The song variously describes the young man's conscription, the woman's grief at his death and her refusal to adorn herself or marry again, and sometimes a verse where the woman's mother advises her to find a new partner, or an account of the man's ship sinking.

Background

Several European nations used forced recruitment by various means. The best known example is the dependence of the English Navy on impressment as a means to crew its ships during wartime from the 17th to the early 19th centuries. "The Lowlands of Holland" probably originated during the Anglo-Dutch Wars in the 17th century, and enjoyed revivals in popularity during the Wars of Louis XIV and the Napoleonic Wars. The vegetation mentioned suggests that the song refers to Dutch colonies in the West Indies.

A lesser known version of the song, originating from Suffolk and probably a local adaptation, dates to the era of the Seven Years' War, fought in the Low Countries and Prussia/Silesia in the mid-eighteenth century. In this version the singer's love who is leaving is a soldier rather than a sailor; and one of the verses refers to his participation in the Battle of Minden in 1759. At this battle various British regiments advanced to meet the enemy. It is said that as they echeloned forward, the soldiers plucked wild roses from the hedgerows, and wore them in their shakos, as the flowers reminded them of home.

The relevant verse of the song runs:

My love across the ocean
Wears a scarlet coat so fair,
With a musket at his shoulder
And roses in his hair.

Modern recordings

Modern artists and groups who have recorded the song include:

See also
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