And layd him on the green…

American writer, Sylvia Wright, coined the phrase ‘mondegreen’ in an article written for Harper’s Magazine in 1954. As a child, her recollection of the Scottish ballad, Earl O’Moray, was that the Earl met a sticky end alongside his beloved, Lady Mondegreen. Whilst the Lady was fortunate enough to enjoy a resurrection, no such luck was to be had by the Earl.

Ye Highlands and ye Lowlands,

Oh, where hae ye been?

They hae slain the Earl O' Moray,

And Lady Mondegreen.

In actual fact, the Lady was a mere figment of Wright’s poor hearing…it was all the Earl’s demise that featured in the actual stanza.

Ye Highlands and ye Lowlands,

Oh, where hae ye been?

They hae slain the Earl O' Moray,

And layd him on the green.

Forever more, a ‘mondegreen’ is the term used to refer to a misheard lyric or line.

Which brings me to the end of my etymology lesson and into today…

The short one announced to me today that they had been learning Christmas carols at kindy. With that, she launched into a rousing rendition of ‘We wish you a merry Christmas’.

Humming along, I was suitably impressed with her remembering the lines. Granted they’re not that difficult…that was until we hit the ‘Good dinings we bring to you and your king.’

Dinings?

It appears that here… her version deviates somewhat from the conventional historical version…

One can only assume that the Three Wise men have ditched their gold, frankincense and myrrh and gone with the little known KFC Family bucket, Thai takeaway and Dial-a-pizza delivery.

As any new mother knows…gifts of prepared meals are always a God-send in those early days of parenthood!