Volume III, song 238, pages 246 and 247 - 'Alloa House' -...
Volume III, song 238, pages 246 and 247 - 'Alloa House' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)
Verse 1: 'The spring time returns, and cloeths the green plains, And Alloa shines, more chearful and gay; The lark tunes his throat and the neighbouring swains Sing merrily round me where ever I stray. But Sandy no more returns to my view; No spring time me chears no music can charm; He's gone! and I fear me, forever adieu, Adieu ev'ry pleasure this bosom can warm.'
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 first published in 1740 by James Oswald after the melody had been adapted by Rev. Dr Alexander Webster. It was, however, published under the title of 'Alloaway House', which adds confusion to the context of the song by shifting the focus to Ayrshire. It has been suggested that as the publisher, Oswald was based in Dunfermline, then Alloa should be the correct reading. This song is now believed to be one of Oswald's best compositions.
Volume III, song 238, pages 246 and 247 - 'Alloa House' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)