Broadside ballad entitled 'The Lass o' Ballochmyle'

This ballad begins: 'Fair is the morn in flowery May, / And sweet is night in autumn mild, / When roving through the garden gay, / Or wandering in the lonely wild; / But woman, nature's darling child, / There all her charms she does compile; / Even there her other works are foiled / By the bonnie lass o' Ballochmyle.' This ballad was published at 192 Overgate, Dundee, probably by the Poet's Box. It was to be sung to an 'original' tune, and was priced one penny. Early ballads were dramatic or humorous narrative songs derived from folk culture that predated printing. Originally perpetuated by word of mouth, many ballads survive because they were recorded on broadsides. Musical notation was rarely printed, as tunes were usually established favourites. The term 'ballad' eventually applied more broadly to any kind of topical or popular verse. This is a version of a ballad whose authorship has often been credited to Robert Burns. In fact, the song credited to Burns started out as a poem to Wilhelmina Alexander (1753-1843) sister of the Laird of Ballochmyle. Burns's poem was later adapted into a song with the addition of the traditional chorus that also features in the song on this broadside. This is an example of how several different ballads based on the same story could evolve.

Collection

Popular Print in Scotland, 1650-1850

Inventory Number

4502004

Title

Broadside ballad entitled 'The Lass o' Ballochmyle'

Object Type

PhysicalObject

Measurements

- 87 x 256mm