Volume III, song 224, page 233 - 'The day returns, my bosom...
Volume III, song 224, page 233 - 'The day returns, my bosom burns' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)
Verse 1 (to the tune of 'Seventh of November'): 'The day returns, my bosom burns, The blissful day we twa did meet, Tho' winter wild in tempest toil'd, Ne'er summer sun was half sae sweet. Then a' the pride that loads the tide, And crosses o'er the sultry line; Than kingly robes, than crowns and globes, Heav'n gave me more it made thee mine.'
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.
As Johnson notes, this song was written by Robert Burns. Although in this instance Johnson's information is correct, it is generally not to be relied upon and has, at times, proved to be inaccurate. According to John Glen, in 'Early Scottish Melodies' (1900), Burns wrote this song 'in compliment to his friend Captain Robert Riddell of Glenriddell (1754-91)'. The melody was composed by Riddell and published in his 'Collection of New Music for the Piano-Forte or Harpsichord' (1787). Glen also notes that 'the seventh of November is said to be the anniversary of the Captain's marriage'.
Volume III, song 224, page 233 - 'The day returns, my bosom burns' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)