Volume III, song 269, page 278 - 'The Bridal o't' - Scanned...
Volume III, song 269, page 278 - 'The Bridal o't' - 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 'Lucy Campbel'): 'They say that Jockey'll speed weel o't, They say that Jockey'll speed weel o't, For he grows brawer ilka day, I hope we'll hae a bridal o't. For yesternight nae farder gane, The backhouse at the side wa' o't, He there wi' Meg we mirden seen, I hope we'll hae a bridal o't.' 'Speed' refers to being excited or successful, 'bridal' relates to a wedding and 'farder' is further or farther.
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.
Robert Burns wrote notes on the songs in an interleaved copy of the 'Museum' belonging to his friend Captain Robert Riddell of Glenriddell. In reference to 'The Bridal o't' he wrote, 'This song is the work of a Mr Alex(ande)r Ross, late schoolmaster at Lochlee; and author of a beautiful Scots poem, called 'The Fortunate Shepherdess'.' The poet Alexander Ross (1699-1784) is best remembered for his witty songs and his pastoral entitled 'Helenore' or 'The Fortunate Shepherdess'. A disciple of the poet Allan Ramsay (1686-1758), he drew inspiration from Ramsay's 'The Gentle Shepherd'. Burns was unending in his praise for Ross's work.
Volume III, song 269, page 278 - 'The Bridal o't' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)