Volume II, song 147, page 154 - 'I, who am sore oppress'd with Love' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1 (to the tune of 'Lovely lass of Monorgon'): 'I, who am sore oppress'd with love, Must like the lonely turtle dove, To hills and shady groves repair, To vent my grief and sorrow there; Must now, alas! resolve to part. At once with you and with my heart; For do you think my heart can stay Behind, when you are gone away?' 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. According to Glen (1900), this melody was taken from James Oswald's 'Caledonian Pocket Companion' (1759). Unfortunately neither the composer nor nationality of the melody are known, although Glen conjectures that 'the air possesses some traits of Irish character'. Meanwhile William Stenhouse, editor of the 'Museum' following Johnson's death, believed that the actual verses were by Alexander Roberston of Struan.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503343

Title

Volume II, song 147, page 154 - 'I, who am sore oppress'd with Love' - 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