Volume III, song 270, page 279 - 'Merry hae I been teethin' a heckle' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verses 1 and 2 (to the tune of 'Boddich na'mbrigs,' or 'Lord Breadalbine's March'): 'O merry hae I been teethin' a heckle, An merry hae I been shapin' a spoon: O merry hae I been cloutin a kettle, An' kissin' my Katie when a' was done. O, A' the lang day I ca' at my hammer, An a' the lang day I whistle and sing O, A' the lang night I cuddle my kimmer, An' a' the lang night as happy's a king.' A 'heckle' is a comb for dressing flax and hemp. It can also mean to scold or tease. 'Clout' means to beat or strike, or to patch and repair and 'ca' in this instance probably refers to knocking. Finally, 'kimmer' refers to a young woman. 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. Unfortunately, it is not known who the author of this particular song was. An invaluable source of information on the 'Museum' has proved to be notes written by Robert Burns in an interleaved copy of the 'Museum', belonging to his friend Captain Robert Riddell of Glenriddell. In many instances Burns provides information on the authorship and origins of the songs. He does not, however, have anything to say on this song. The tune is known to be a Highland melody, and, according to John Glen (1900), 'is a favourite bagpipe march'. It appeared in Daniel Dow's 'Collection of Ancient Scots Music for the Volin, Harpsichord, or German Flute, never before printed', published around 1775. As with the author of the song, the composer of this tune is not known.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503466

Title

Volume III, song 270, page 279 - 'Merry hae I been teethin' a heckle' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Object Type

PhysicalObject

Measurements

- 132 x 211 mm