Volume V, song 465, page 478-9 - 'My Minnie says I manna' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'Fu' fain wad I be Jamie's lass, My Minnie says I manna. My daddie curs'd, my minnie grat, And I wi' Jamie's love and quat, But in my heart I'll tell you what, I said in sooth I canna I canna I said in sooth I canna.' The words 'minnie', 'manna', 'quat' and 'grat' translate as 'mother', 'quit', 'may not' and 'cried'. 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. The tune to this piece was originally contained in Oswald's 'Caledonian Pocket Companion' (1725) although it had been slightly adapted for publication here. Both the melody and words are now thought to be English imitations in a Scottish style. This sort of song would have been popular in London, perfumed in places such as Vauxhall Gardens or in an operatic comedy.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503659

Title

Volume V, song 465, page 478-9 - 'My Minnie says I manna' - 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