Volume I, song 133, page 139 and 140 - 'What will I do gin my Hoggie die' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

There are two different sets of lyrics given for the tune of this song. The first set, written by Burns, reads, verse 1: 'What will I do gin my Hoggie die, My joy, my pride, my Hoggie, My only beast, I had nae mae, And vow but I was vogie! The ice-lang night we watch'd the fauld, Me and my faithfu' doggie; We heard nought but the roaring linn, Amang the braes sae scroggie. But the houlet cry'd frae the Castle wa', The blitter frae the boggie, The tod reply'd upon the hill, I trembl'd for my Hoggie. When day did daw', and cocks did craw, The morning it was foggie; And unco tyke lap o'er the dyke, And maist has kill'd my Hoggie.' Burns mentions in his notes to the 'Museum', that the second set of lyrics, which begin, 'What words, dear Nancy, will prevail?', were written by Dr Blacklock. Dr Thomas Blacklock (1721 - 1791) was a bricklayer's son from Dumfriesshire. He was known as 'the blind bard', having lost his sight due to smallpox when just a year old. Burns was fond of Blacklock, although recognised his limitations as a poet, saying in a letter to Dr Johnson, 'I have still a good number of Dr Blacklock's Songs among my hands, but they take sad hacking and hewing.' The above lyrics can be roughly translated into English as meaning: What will I do should my (pet) lamb die? / My joy, my pride, my lamb! / My only beast, I had no more, / And vow but I was vain! / The ice-long night we watched the fold, / Me and my faithful doggy; / We heard nought but the roaring waterfall, / Among the hill-sides so scraggy. / But the owl cried from the castle wall, / The mire snipe from the bog, / The fox replied upon the hill: / I trembled for my lamb. / When day did dawn, and cocks did crow, / The morning it was foggy, / A strange dog leaped over the stone wall, / And almost has killed my lamb!

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503296

Title

Volume I, song 133, page 139 and 140 - 'What will I do gin my Hoggie die' - 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

- 260 x 211 mm