When I Was Not But Sweet Sixteen
Composer: Traditional
Arranger: Lindsay Straw
Key: F#m (Em w/ capo 2)
Tuning: Standard
Time for another dive into my old repertoire, again sourced from the wonderful singing of Scottish Traveller Jeannie Robertson. By many accounts attitudes towards premarital sex in pre-Industrial Revolution Scotland were more complex and nuanced than you may expect. But even so, being an unwed mother came with many struggles. As a result, there are many songs crafted to warn young women of the perils of cavorting with young lads, though this one is rather mild compared to some!
Back in 2015 I released this song on my album My Mind From Love Being Free. Check it out on all streaming platforms and Bandcamp!