The Complete Works of Robert Burns Part 288

I composed this song pretty early in life, and sent it to a young girl, a very particular acquaintance of mine, who was at that time under a cloud.

THE SHEPHERD'S PREFERENCE.

This song is Dr. Blacklock's.--I don't know how it came by the name, but the oldest appellation of the air was, "Whistle and I'll come to you, my lad."

It has little affinity to the tune commonly known by that name.

THE BONIE BANKS OF AYR.

I composed this song as I conveyed my chest so far on the road to Greenock, where I was to embark in a few days for Jamaica.

I meant it as my farewell dirge to my native land.

JOHN O' BADENYON.

This excellent song is the composition of my worthy friend, old Skinner, at Linshart.

"When first I cam to be a man Of twenty years or so, I thought myself a handsome youth, And fain the world would know; In best attire I stept abroad, With spirits brisk and gay, And here and there and everywhere, Was like a morn in May; No care had I nor fear of want, But rambled up and down, And for a beau I might have pa.s.s'd In country or in town; I still was pleas'd where'er I went, And when I was alone, I tun'd my pipe and pleas'd myself Wi' John o' Badenyon.

Now in the days of youthful prime A mistress I must find, For _love_, I heard, gave one an air And ev'n improved the mind: On Phillis fair above the rest Kind fortune fixt my eyes, Her piercing beauty struck my heart, And she became my choice; To Cupid now with hearty prayer I offer'd many a vow; And danc'd, and sung, and sigh'd, and swore, As other lovers do; But, when at last I breath'd my flame, I found her cold as stone; I left the jilt, and tun'd my pipe To John o' Badenyon.

When _love_ had thus my heart beguil'd With foolish hopes and vain, To _friendship's_ port I steer'd my course, And laugh'd at lover's pain A friend I got by lucky chance 'Twas something like divine, An honest friend's a precious gift, And such a gift was mine: And now, whatever might betide, A happy man was I, In any strait I knew to whom I freely might apply; A strait soon came: my friend I try'd; He heard, and spurn'd my moan; I hy'd me home, and tun'd my pipe To John o' Badenyon.

Methought I should be wiser next, And would a _patriot_ turn, Began to doat on Johnny Wilks, And cry up Parson Horne.

Their manly spirit I admir'd, And prais'd their n.o.ble zeal, Who had with flaming tongue and pen Maintain'd the public weal; But e'er a month or two had past, I found myself betray'd, 'Twas _self_ and _party_ after all, For a' the stir they made; At last I saw the factious knaves Insult the very throne, I curs'd them a', and tun'd my pipe To John o' Badenyon."

A WAUKRIFE MINNIE.

I picked up this old song and tune from a country girl in Nithsdale.--I never met with it elsewhere in Scotland.

"Whare are you gaun, my bonie la.s.s, Whare are you gaun, my hinnie, She answer'd me right saucilie, An errand for my minnie.

O whare live ye, my bonnie la.s.s, O whare live ye, my hinnie, By yon burn-side, gin ye maun ken, In a wee house wi' my minnie.

But I foor up the glen at e'en, To see my bonie la.s.sie; And lang before the gray morn cam, She was na hauf sa sacie.

O weary fa' the waukrife c.o.c.k, And the foumart lay his crawin!

He wauken'd the auld wife frae her sleep, A wee blink or the dawin.

An angry wife I wat she raise, And o'er the bed she brought her; And wi' a mickle hazle rung She made her a weel pay'd dochter.

O fare thee weel, my bonie la.s.s!

O fare thee weel, my hinnie!

Thou art a gay and a bonie la.s.s, But thou hast a waukrife minnie."

TULLOCHGORUM.

This first of songs, is the master-piece of my old friend Skinner. He was pa.s.sing the day, at the town of Cullen, I think it was, in a friend's house whose name was Montgomery. Mrs. Montgomery observing, _en pa.s.sant_, that the beautiful reel of Tullochgorum wanted words, she begged them of Mr. Skinner, who gratified her wishes, and the wishes of every Scottish song, in this most excellent ballad.

These particulars I had from the author's son, Bishop Skinner, at Aberdeen.

FOR A' THAT AND A' THAT.

This song is mine, all except the chorus.

AULD LANG SYNE.

Ramsay here, as usual with him, has taken the idea of the song, and the first line, from the old fragment which may be seen in the "Museum," vol. v.

WILLIE BREW'D A PECK O' MAUT.

This air is Masterton's; the song mine.--The occasion of it was this:--Mr. W. Nicol, of the High-School, Edinburgh, during the autumn vacation being at Moffat, honest Allan, who was at that time on a visit to Dalswinton, and I, went to pay Nicol a visit.--We had such a joyous meeting that Mr. Masterton and I agreed, each in our own way, that we should celebrate the business.

KILLIECRANKIE.

The battle of Killiecrankie was the last stand made by the clans for James, after his abdication. Here the gallant Lord Dundee fell in the moment of victory, and with him fell the hopes of the party. General Mackay, when he found the Highlanders did not pursue his flying army, said, "Dundee must be killed, or he never would have overlooked this advantage." A great stone marks the spot where Dundee fell.

THE EWIE WI' THE CROOKED HORN.