Volume IV, song 348, page 359 - 'As I was a wand'ring' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1 (to the tune of the Galeic air, 'Rinn m'eudial mo mhealladh'): 'As I was a wand'ring ae midsummer e'enin The pipers and youngsters were makin their game, Amang them I spyed my faithless fause luver, Which bled a' the wounds o' my dolour again. Weel, since he has left me, may pleasure gae wi' him; I may be distress'd but I winna complain: I'll flatter my fancy I may get anither My heart it shall never be broken for ane.' 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. Interestingly, this is another love song in the collection that is written from the female viewpoint. There is some contention as to the origins of this Gaelic air. Glen (1900) disputes Stenhouse's claim that Burns discovered the melody during his trip to the north of Scotland in 1787, and claims that Burns probably learnt the tune from some other source. The English translation of the Gaelic title is 'My dear did deceive me', so the song is about the emotional pain of seeing unfaithful lovers.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503544

Title

Volume IV, song 348, page 359 - 'As I was a wand'ring' - 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