Volume V, song 412, page 425 - 'Here's a Health to them that's awa' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'Here's a health to them that's awa here's a health to them that's awa, Here's a health to them that were here short syne But cana be here the day./ It's gude to be merry and wise, It's gude to be honest and true, Its gude to be aff wi' the auld love be fore ye be on wi' the new.' The verses at the top of this page belong to song 411. 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. Although Johnson has failed to mention it here, Burns is generally believed to be the author of this song. Another song with the same title, which is also attributed to Burns, begins 'Here's a health to them that's awa, / Here's a health to them that's awa; / And wha winna wish gude luck to our cause, / May never gude luck be their fa'! / It's gude to be merry and wise / It's gude to be honest and true; / It's gude to support Caledonia's cause / And bide by the buff and the blue.'

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503607

Title

Volume V, song 412, page 425 - 'Here's a Health to them that's awa' - 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

- 129 x 211 mm