Volume II, song 179, page 187 - 'Musing on the roaring...
Volume II, song 179, page 187 - 'Musing on the roaring Ocean' - 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 'Druimion dubh'): 'Musing on the roaring ocean, Which divides my love and me Wearying Heav'n in warm devotion, For his weal where'er he be.'
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.
Burns in his personal notes on the songs comments, 'I composed these verses out of compliment to a Mrs McLachlan, whose husband is an officer in the East Indies'. This must have been a great compliment to Mrs McLachlan and a testament to her friendship with Burns, or else she had a very inspiring story. The melody on the other hand is much older and of Highland origin. There is another very similar tune to this called 'Drimen Cuff', but it is not exactly the same. Apart from this small amount of information, very little else is known about this song.
Volume II, song 179, page 187 - 'Musing on the roaring Ocean' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)