Volume III, song 279, page 288 - 'My Mary dear, departed...
Volume III, song 279, page 288 - 'My Mary dear, departed shade' - 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 Capt(ain) Cook's death &c.'): 'Thou ling'ring star, with less'ning ray, That lov'st to greet the early morn, Again thou usher'st in the day My Mary from my soul was torn. O Mary! dear departed Shade! Where is thy place of blissful rest? Seest thou thy Lover lowly laid? Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast?'
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.
According to Johnson's note in the top left-hand corner, Robert Burns wrote this song for inclusion in the 'Museum'. Whilst this is entirely possible, the information provided by Johnson has not always proved accurate. The tune is purported to be the composition of Miss Lucy Johnston of Hillton, who later became Mrs Oswald of Auchincruive. Several eighteenth-century collections of dance music include a dedication to Mrs Oswald.
Volume III, song 279, page 288 - 'My Mary dear, departed shade' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)