Volume VI, song 552, pages 570 and 571 - 'When I think on my lad' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'When I think on my lad I sigh and am sad for now he is far frae me, my daddy was harsh, My minny was warse that gart him gae yont the sea. Without an estate, That made him look blate: And yet a brave lad is he gin safe he come hame, In spite of my dame, He'll ever be welcome to me.' 'Blate' in Old Scots conveys the sense of a lack of promise and sheepishness. 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. Surprisingly, there is a lot known about this song. The lyrics were composed by Allan Ramsay for inclusion in his 'Tea-Table Miscellany' (1724-7), although it was published by him under the title 'My Daddy forbad, my Minny forbad'. Ramsay was famous at the time for the excellent work he produced in the new and popular 'pastoral' style. The tune was composed by Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707), an English musician most famous in his role as organist of the Chapel Royal. This gives the tune an Anglo-Scottish origin.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503747

Title

Volume VI, song 552, pages 570 and 571 - 'When I think on my lad' - 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