“How Soon” (Excerpt) Gibb\Walsh

In 1774, at the tender age of 15 Miss Agnes Craig, as Nancy was then, was already starting to attract the attention of the young blades in Glasgow, where she spent the first part of her life. Her father, recognising that she was becoming rather involved in the amorous atmosphere of some of Glasgow’s drawing rooms, decided to send her to finishing school in Edinburgh.

On the morning of her departure to Edinburgh, her father noted that other than Nancy, there was only one other passenger traveling on the inside of the coach, but bade he farewell, happy that he was doing his paternal duty by taking her mind off the young men of Glasgow for a while.

The other passenger, however, turned out to be none other than James McLehose, a young lawyer who had previously been introduced to Nancy at a friends party. The enterprising Mr McLehose on hearing that Nancy was to travel to Edinburgh unchaperoned, booked all of the remaining inside seats so that he could be quite alone with Nancy. This proved to be an important days travel for both of them. By the end of the trip, they were tantamount to becoming engaged. Nancy eventually did marry James in her 17th year in 1776.

Sadly, the charms he had displayed at the beginning of their marriage soon faded and it was apparent that he was in fact a bully and a drunkard and his harsh treatment of Nancy led them to separate in December 1780.

In “How Soon”, Nancy reflects on this period in her life and how quickly what had seemed to be a happy and blissful marriage changed.  

Vocal - Sabrina Carter

Guitar - Kevin Walsh