Set to Music by Mr. John Ross, Organist, Aberdeen.
OUR bonnie Scots lads in their green tartan plaids,
Their blue-belted bonnets, an feathers sae braw,
Rankt up on the green war fair tae be seen,
But my bonnie young laddie was fairest o a ;
His cheeks war as red as the sweet heather-bell,
Or the red western dud lookin doun on the snaw;
His lang yellow hair owre his braid shouthers fell,
An the een o the lasses war fix't on him a.
My heart sank wi was on the wearifu day,
When torn frae my bosom they march'd him awa,
He bade me fareweel, he cried—"Oh, be leel !"
An his red cheeks war wet wi the tears that did fa.
Ah ! Harry, my love, tho' thou ne'er shou'dst return,
Till life's latest hour I thy absence will mourn :
An memory shall fade like the leaf on the tree,
E'er my heart spare ae thocht on anither but thee.
In noticing this song in the “Soldier's Return,” page 11, we added a Note referring to the eminent composer of the music ; and we now again refer to Mr. Ross with greater pleasure from the following accidental conversation respecting other music of the composer:—On Thursday evening, 4th August, 1875, we met Mr. John Walker, Wellmeadow, a good amateur player on the pianoforte, who, observing a book in our hands, asked the name of the old volume ; when we told him it was so new that it had not reached the length of receiving a name, as it consisted of the printed sheets only of this volume, He then remarked that he had just risen from playing one of the finest pieces of music that had ever pawed through his hands,—a perfect treasure,—so precious that he would not lend it to any person in case it would not be returned to him. He mentioned that the words were “An Ode to Charity,” and the music “such excellent music” —was composed by a John Ross. We then stated to Mr. Walker that Mr. Ross had composed the music for several of Tannahill's songs, and opened up page 11, and desired him to read the Note on Mr. Ross. On reading over that brief biography of Mr. Ross, he expressed himself so pleased and gratified that we held the same opinion of that distinguished composer, and remarked that it was no wonder Tannahill's songs were often sung when the music was set by ouch an exquisite composer. We told him that Ross had published a large folio volume of music, and we had searched the libraries of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and made enquiries in Aberdeen and in the British Museum, and also advertised for a copy, all without success. Mr. Walker kindly lent us the volume, which is entitled—“An Ode to Charity, written by Mr. John Rannie. Set to Music with an accompaniment for the Pianoforte, and respectfully dedicated to Mrs. James Gordon of Craig, by John Ross, Organist of St. Paul's, Aberdeen. Price 5s. London : Printed and Sold by Preston, at his Wholesale Warehouse, 97 Strand.” It is an engraved 4to. of 21 pages without date, but seems to have been published in the end of last century from the colour of the paper. —Ed.
[Semple 80]