Volume V, song 488, pages 502 and 503 - 'The Haws of Cromdale' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'As I came in by Achindown, A little wee bit frae the town, When to the highlands I was bown, To view the haws o' Cromdale. I met a man in tartan trews, I speer'd at him what was the news, Quo' he, The highland army rues, That e'er we came to Cromdale.' 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 rebel song relates the Battle of Cromdale fought by the Earl of Montrose. There are a few historical problems with this story, however, as the Battle of Cromdale was fought in 1690 between Sir Thomas Livingston, commissioned by the government, and General Buchan's Highland troops, who fought in the name of King James. The lyrics often go by the alternative spelling 'The Haughs of Cromdale'. The original name of the tune was 'Wat ye how the Play began', and then became the 'New Killiecrankie', and was eventually known by the name given here.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503682

Title

Volume V, song 488, pages 502 and 503 - 'The Haws of Cromdale' - 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

- 258 x 211 mm