Volume V, song 489, page 504 - 'No Dominies for me, laddie' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'I chanc'd to meet an airy blade A new-made pulpiteer, laddie Wi' cock'd up hat and powder'd wig, Black coat and cuffs fu' clear laddie.' A 'Dominie' was the Old Scots term for a school master or a teacher. 'Blade' in this context conveys the sense of a flashy or tricked up person. 'Cocked up hats' was the contemporary word for a tricorn hat. These hats had their brims turned up to display and protect the expensive wig worn underneath. Both of these items were the height of fashion at the time. 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. There was contemporary debate about the lyricist. Two gentlemen were suggested at the time: Rev. Mr Nathaniel MacKay, Minister of Cross-Michael, Kirkcudbright or Rev. John Forbes, Minister of Deer, Aberdeenshire. There was no conclusive evidence at the time of the 'Museum's' publication and the debate is still unresolved. This was the first appearance in print of this melody although it went on to be published in subsequent collections. Later commentators thought the tune displayed definite Scottish characteristics.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503683

Title

Volume V, song 489, page 504 - 'No Dominies for me, laddie' - 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