Volume V, song 456, page 469 - 'Lizae Baillie' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'My bonny Lizae Baillie, I'll row ye in my plaidie And ye maun gang alang wi' me And be a Highland Lady.' 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 is occasionally known as 'Bonnie Lizzie Baillie'. The melody and lyrics were never published together until Lizae's appearance in the 'Museum'. Fragments of the words were taken from David Herd's 'Scots Songs: Ancient and Modern' (1776), whilst the tune was published in William Napier's 'Selection of Scots Songs' (1792). Very little else is known about the song, although it is probable that Burns played a large part in rearranging the song into the form seen here in the 'Museum'. It is possible that the Lizae in the song was the daughter of the Bailey of Castle Cary, Stirlingshire, who eloped with Duncan Graham whilst travelling through Perthshire with her sister. There is, however, no date attached to this story.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503650

Title

Volume V, song 456, page 469 - 'Lizae Baillie' - 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