But, Tibbie, lass, tak my advice: CLARINDA. [This beautiful lyric, thrown in near the close of Johnson's second volume, was Burns' parting song to Mrs. M'Lehose, on his leaving Edinburgh in February, 1788.] CLARINDA, mistress of my soul, The measur'd time is run! To what dark cave of frozen night We part-but by these precious drops, She, the fair Sun of all her sex, * Stanza, in MS., omitted by Johnson: "There lives a lass in yonder park, SONGS CONTRIBUTED BY BURNS TO VOL. III. OF JOHNSON, FEB. 2, 1790. The poet wrote to Johnson on 15th November, 1788, in these terms:-"I am preparing a flaming preface for your third volume. I see every day new musical publications advertised; but what are they? Gaudy, painted butterflies of a day, and then they vanish for ever: but your work will outlive the momentary neglects of fashion, and defy the teeth of time. Perhaps you may not find your account lucratively in this business; but you are a patriot for the music of your country, and I am certain posterity will look on themselves as highly indebted to your public spirit. Be not in a hurry: let us go on correctly, and your name shall be immortal." The following is the Preface referred to: Now that the Editor gives this third Volume of The Scots Musical Museum to the Public, he hopes it will not be found unworthy of the Volumes already published. As this is not one of those many publications which are hourly ushered into the World, merely to catch the eye of Fashion in her frenzy of a day, the Editor has little to hope or fear from the herd of readers. Consciousness of the well-known merit of our Scotish Music, and the national fondness of a Scotchman for the productions of his own country, are at once the Editor's motive and apology for this undertaking; and where any of the pieces in the collection may perhaps be found wanting at the critical bar of the first, he appeals to the honest prejudices of the last. Edinr., February 2d, 1790. I LOVE MY LOVE IN SECRET. [This is an old song, inadmissible in its original state, through its indelicacy; and therefore altered by Burns, in order to preserve the air, and give a better character to the words. The last verse records a very interesting old custom between lovers, when compelled by force of circumstances to part against their will-a practice affectionately recorded also in the beautiful song-Logie o' Buchan: "He had but ae saxpence, he brak it in twa, And he gae me the hauf o't when he gaed awa."] My Sandy gied to me a ring, I gied my heart in pledge o' his ring. CHORUS. My Sandy O, my Sandy O, My bonie, bonie Sandy O; Tho' the love that I owe, to thee I dare na show, Yet I love my love in secret, my Sandy O. My Sandy brak a piece o' gowd, TIBBIE DUNBAR. TUNE-Johnny M'Gill. [This favourite air, which derives its name from its composer, Mr. John M'Gill, musician in Girvan, Ayrshire, wanted words as a vehicle for preservation, and Burns supplied it with the following lines. The air has since acquired greater popularity, under the title of Come under my plaidie, from a ballad which was written for it by Hector M'Neil.] O WILT thou go wi' me, sweet Tibbie Dunbar? MY HARRY WAS A GALLANT GAY. TUNE-Highlander's Lament. [This song is unclaimed for Burns in Johnson, but in his MS. notes he says:"The chorus I picked up from an old woman in Dunblane; the rest of the song is mine." The tune seems to have some connection with the gallant 42nd Regiment, or "Black Watch," for Burns has recorded that its oldest name is, The Highland Watch's Farewell to Ireland.] Mr Harry was a gallant gay, Fu' stately strade he on the plain; But now he's banish'd far awa', CHORUS. O for him back again! O for him back again! I wad gie a' Knockhaspie's land For Highland Harry back again. When a' the lave gae to their bed, O were some villains hangit high, THE TAYLOR FELL THRO' THE BED. [Stenhouse tells us that the second and fourth verses are by Burns, and that the rest of the song is very old. No doubt the poet's motive for dressing up this old song was to preserve its ancient and beautiful air, which is that known as The Tailor's March, and made use of at all election meetings of the old corporation, and other festive occasions. It may also be mentioned that the tune is the progenitor of the highly popular air-Logie o' Buchan.] THE Taylor fell thro' the bed, thimble an' a', The blankets were thin and the sheets they were sma', The sleepy bit lassie she dreaded nae ill, Gie me the groat again, canny young man, There's somebody weary wi' lying her lane, AY WAUKIN O. [Stenhouse says that this is a very old fragment, altered somewhat by Burns, and to which he prefixed a verse-"Simmer's a pleasant time," &c.] SIMMER'S a pleasant time, Flowers of ev'ry colour The water rins owre the heugh, CHORUS. Ay waukin O, Waukin still and weary : For thinking on my dearie. When I sleep I dream, When I wauk I'm eerie; Sleep I can get nane, For thinking on my dearie. Lanely night comes on, A' the lave are sleepin': I think on my bonie lad, And I bleer my een wi' greetin'. BEWARE O' BONIE ANN. [These verses, Burns tells us in a note, he composed in 1788, in compliment to Miss Ann Masterton, daughter of his friend Allan Masterton, writing master and amateur composer of music. The fifth and sixth lines of verse first are the counterpart of a beautiful verse in the very last song which Burns sent to the Museum "Her yellow hair beyond compare, Comes trinkling down her swan-white neck; YE gallants bright I rede ye right, Her comely face sae fu' o' grace, |