Volume VI, song 533, pages 550 and 551 - 'Come under my plaidy' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'Come under my plaidy, the night's ga'en to fa'; Come in frae the cauld blast, the drift and the snaw; Come under my plaidy, and lye down beside me; There's room in't dear lassie, believe me for twa Come under my plaidy, and lye down beside me I'll hap ye frae ev'ry cauld blast that will blaw. O come under my plaidy, and lye down beside me there's room in't dear lassie believe me for twa.' 'Plaidy' is a plaid garment that was used as a blanket. 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. The lyrics for this song were written by the poet, Hector MacNeill (1746-1818). This is one of several songs by him that appear in 'The Scots Musical Museum'. The air that these song lyrics are sung to is 'Johnny McGill', which also appears for song number 207 in this collection. John Glen (1900) writes that this song is all about the appeal that worldly goods have for certain women who, upon receiving an offer of marriage, are not unduly worried by the age of a suitor as long as he is wealthy.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503727

Title

Volume VI, song 533, pages 550 and 551 - 'Come under my plaidy' - 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

- 258 x 211 mm