Volume V, song 483, page 497 - 'The Wren, or Lennox's love to Blantyre' - 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 Wren soho lyes in care's bed, In care's bed, in care's bed The Wren soho lyes in care's bed, In meikle dule and pyne O! Quhen in came Robin Red brest, Quhen in came Robin Red brest, Quhen in came Robin Red brest, Wi' succar saps and wyne O.' 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. A rough translation of these lyrics would read as, 'The Wren she lies in care's bed, / In care's bed, in care's bed / The Wren she lies in care's bed, / With much sadness and pining O! / When in came Robin Red brest, / When in came Robin Red brest, / When in came Robin Red brest, / With sweetened pap and wine O'. The tune to this piece, a Strathspey, has been linked with other tunes such as 'O dear mother what shall I do' (song 236) or 'How can I keep my maidenhead'.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503677

Title

Volume V, song 483, page 497 - 'The Wren, or Lennox's love to Blantyre' - 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