Volume II, song 185, page 193 - 'I had a Horse, and I had nae mair' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'I had a horse, and I had nae mair, I gat him frae my daddy; My purse was light, and my heart was fair, But my wit it was fu' ready. And sae I thought me on a time, Outwittens of my daddy, To see mysell to a lawland laird, Wha had a bonny lady.' 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. This song also goes by the name of 'The Surprise', although it is not known in publication before the 'Scots Musical Museum'. Burns, in his personal notes on the song, records an anecdote, 'which was founded on fact', related to him by the great grandson of the Mr Hunter in the poem. John Hunter of Barrmill in Galston, was the luckless hero who to repay youthful misdemeanors, fee'd himself (gave himself into service) to a Highland laird. The melody of the piece is thought to be a little older, having been published in 1776.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503381

Title

Volume II, song 185, page 193 - 'I had a Horse, and I had nae mair' - 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