Volume V, song 497, page 513 - 'It was a' for our rightfu' king' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'It was a' for our rightfu' king We left fair Scotland's strand; It was a' for our rightfu' king, We e'er saw Irish land my dear, We e'er saw Irish land.' 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. Although Johnson makes no mention of it here, this song is considered by many to be a Burns composition. If not written by the bard, it is possible he either collected or revised it for inclusion in the 'Museum'. Unfortunately, such uncertainty surrounds a large number of the songs in the 'Museum'. John Glen (1900) was one of a number who did not believe Burns to be the author of this work. Neither the song nor the melody are thought to have appeared in any collections prior to the 'Museum'.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503691

Title

Volume V, song 497, page 513 - 'It was a' for our rightfu' king' - 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

- 129 x 211 mm