Lady Of Carlisle

Album: various (1666)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Or "The Lady Of Carlisle," this old English folk song has many names and as might be expected there are many different versions. "The Lion's Den" and "The Fan" are two of its other names. It is possible the song dates from the 17th Century, and may be of French origin, though it remains to be seen if it is based on actual events in 1666.
  • The Lady of Carlisle has two suitors, and the one who will win her hand is the one who will descend into the lion's den and retrieve the fan she has thrown there. One says wisely that he will not kill himself for love. The other accepts the challenge, descends into the lion's den, and, fortune favoring the brave, retrieves the glove, but decides that a woman who will demand that of him would not make a suitable wife.
  • "The Lady Of Carlisle" has been widely recorded, including as the B-side of "Antique Annie's Magic Lantern Show" by Marian Henderson, and by Clay Walters (for Alan Lomax) in 1937. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.