[1] The ballad tells of a man who has gone off to fight, but only his horse returns.
Several names have been suggested as the inspiration of the ballad: Archibald or James Campbell, in the Battle of Glenlivet, or Sir John Campbell of Calder, who was murdered.
[2][3] Bonnie James (or George) Campbell rides out one day.
His bride comes out, grieving, that the fields are still growing the harvest but he will never return.
In one of the variants, Campbell laments that "my babe is unborn".