Volume III, song 291, page 301 - 'Willie brew'd a peck o' maut' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse I - 'O Willie brew'd a peck o' maut, And Rob and Allan cam to see; Three blyther hearts, that lee lang night, Ye wad na found in Christendie.' Chorus: 'We are na fou, We're nae that fou, But just a drappie in our e'e; The cock may craw the day may daw, And ay we'll taste the barley bree.' 'Lee lang' may be translated as 'live long'. The 'Scots Musical Museum' is the most important of the numerous eighteenth- and nineteenth-century collections of Scottish song. When the engraver James Johnson started work on the second volume of his collection in 1787, he enlisted Robert Burns as contributor and editor. Burns enthusiastically collected songs from various sources, often expanding or revising them, whilst including much of his own work. The resulting combination of innovation and antiquarianism gives the work a feel of living tradition. This song was composed by Burns's friend Allan Masterton (d. 1799), who is mentioned in the second line along with the last of the 'three merry boys'; Burns being the second, William Nicol (1744-07). In the autumn of 1789 Burns and Masterton visited Nicol near Moffat, Dumfriesshire. Much alcohol was consumed and, reputedly whilst still 'merry', the three composed this fine drinking song.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503487

Title

Volume III, song 291, page 301 - 'Willie brew'd a peck o' maut' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Object Type

PhysicalObject

Measurements

- 132 x 211 mm