Volume II, song 114, page 117 - 'McPherson's Farewell' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong, The wretch's destinie! McPherson's time will not be long. On yonder gallows-tree. Sae rantingly, sae wantonly, Sae dauntingly gae'd he. He play'd a spring and danc'd it round, Below the gallows-tree.' A quick and lively tune is known as a 'spring' in the Scots language. 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 particular song was either written, revised or collected for the 'Museum' by Burns. Although he is attributed in the 'Museum' with writing it, this information has often been found to be unreliable. In many instances Burns revised or added further verses to already existing songs. The tune, meanwhile, was first published under the title 'McPherson's Farewell' in James Oswald's 'Caledonian Pocket Companion', around 1755. It also appeared, under the title 'Mcfarsance's testament', in Margaret Sinkler's 1710 Manuscript.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503311

Title

Volume II, song 114, page 117 - 'McPherson's Farewell' - 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