This is a retelling of Child Ballad no. 286, also called the Golden Vanity, the Sweet Trinity among other names. In the the 19th century, Musicologist Francis J. Child compiled and cataloged six volumes of British folk songs, known as the Child ballads. The oldest known version of this one was published in 1635. I found it fascinating how fragmented this story had become, there isn't a clear definitive version or melody. So I thought I would write my own. I've certainly taken tons of liberties in doing so, but great pains were taken to stick as closely as possible to what I felt to be the core themes, images and spirit of the song.

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