Agnes Lyle facts for kids

Agnes Lyle or Agnes Lile (born in the 1700s, died in the 1800s) was a talented British singer of traditional songs called ballads. She lived in a place called Kilbarchan in Scotland. Agnes learned many of her songs from her father. Her special talent helped save these old songs for future generations.

Agnes Lyle's Life Story

Her Early Years

Agnes Lyle was born around 1775. Her father was a weaver, a person who makes cloth. We don't know his name, but we know he lived from about 1731 to 1811. Agnes learned many old songs from him. These songs were called ballads.

Meeting William Motherwell

Agnes Lyle became known because of a special meeting in 1825. She met a man named William Motherwell many times. William Motherwell was a writer and collector. He was traveling around Scotland to find and write down old ballads. He met many Scottish women who sang these songs.

Agnes was his best helper. She shared 22 different songs with him. For some songs, she even gave him both the words and the music. Her neighbors in Kilbarchan also shared some songs. Agnes told William Motherwell that all the songs she sang for him came from her father.

Her Amazing Songs

Agnes sang many kinds of songs. Some were about love stories, and others were about being proud of your country. She was sometimes a bit doubtful about the feelings in the songs. But when she sang the words of a sad song called Sheath and Knife, it made her cry. This shows how deeply she felt the stories in the songs she sang.

Her Lasting Legacy

Sharing Her Music with the World

Agnes Lyle's songs became famous because of William Motherwell's work. Her collected songs were included in a very important book. This book was called English and Scottish Popular Ballads. It was put together by a professor from Harvard University named Francis James Child. The book was published between 1882 and 1898.

In 1978, her ballads were printed again by Indiana University. This means that people can still learn about and enjoy the songs Agnes Lyle helped to save. Her singing helped keep these old stories and tunes alive for many years.