Tune—“The Lea Rig.”
WHAN I the dreary mountains pass'd,
My ain kind dearie, O,
I thought on thee, my bonnie lass,
Although I wasna near thee, O.
My heart within me was richt sad,
Whan ithers they were cheerie, O;
They little kent I thought on thee,
My ain kind dearie, O.
But now an I hae won till Ayr,
Although I'm gae an wearie, O,
I'll tak a glass into my hag,
An drink tae you, my dearie, O.
Cheer up your heart, my bonnie lass,
An see you dinna wearie, O ;
In twice three ooks, 'gin I be spared,
I'se come again an see thee, O.
An row thee up, an row thee down,
An row till I wearie, O,
An row thee o'er the lea rig,
My ain kind dearie, O !
This is the second of the two original songs communicated to Alexander Whitelaw, editor of the “Book of Scottish Song,” published in 1843. The editor remarked that “the following songs by Robert Tannahill are, so far as is known to us, here printed for the first time. We were favoured with them by the Poet's brother, Mr. Matthew Tannahill of Paisley, who says they were composed when their Author was about sixteen or seventeen years of age. In introducing this second song, Mr. Matthew Tannahill said, in the communication with which we are favoured, ‘My brother had a strong wish to see Alloway's auld haunted kirk, and he and two or three of his young acquaintances set out to pay it a visit. After seeing the kirk, they visited some of the surrounding scenery. I remember he was well pleased with the jaunt ; and when he returned, he gave me a copy of two verses of a song which he said he wrote in his bedroom the first time he was in the town of Ayr. I know he did not think much of them himself, and I believe he never wrote another copy. I give you them, however, such as they are.’”
Alloway's “auld haunted kirk” was brought into prominent notice by the publication of “Tam o Shanter.” the tale first appeared in the expensive work of Captain Francis Grose, “The Antiquities of Scotland,” a posthumous publication—he having died on 12th May. 1791. It next appeared in the edition of Burns' Works published in 1793. In 1794, it was scattered broadcast over Scotland in the popular form of a chapbook, and, in that manner, entered almost every home in the kingdom—causing many pilgrimages like that of Tannahill and his companions to the auld haunted kirk and the Land of Burns. The other original song referred to is “The Soldier's Adieu.”—Ed.
[Semple 166]