Volume I, song 052, page 53 - 'Jenny Nettles' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'O Saw ye Jenny Nettles; Jenny Nettles, Jenny Nettles, Saw ye Jenny Nettles, Coming frae the market; Wi' Bag and baggage on her back, Her fee and bountith in her lap, Wi' Bag and baggage on her back, And a babie in her oxter.' Her 'fee and bountith' was her servant's wages and a bonus. 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 Glen (1900), this song was written by Allan Ramsay (1686-1758) and included in his 'Tea-Table Miscellany' (1724-7). Meanwhile, the earliest known occurrence of the tune was in Bremner's 'A Collection of Scots Reels and Country Dances' (1760). Glen goes on to describe it as 'a nice cheerful tune' which, when played quickly, 'makes an excellent dance tune'. He also mentions that 'the prototype of the first strain of 'Jenny Nettles' is found in the Skene MSS., No. 5, called 'I love my Love for love again''.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503247

Title

Volume I, song 052, page 53 - 'Jenny Nettles' - 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

- 130 x 211 mm