Volume II, song 378, page 391- 'Such a parcel of rogues in a nation' - 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 to a' our Scotish fame, Fare weel our ancient glory; Fareweel even to the Scotish name, Sae fam'd in martial story.' Now Sark rins o'er the Solway sands, And Tweed rins to to the ocean To mark where England's province stands, Such a parcel of rogues in a nation.' The word 'Sark' can mean shirt or nightdress. In this context, however, it is probably a reference to the River Sark in Cumbria, just over the border from Scotland. 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. At a feverish and dangerous time when poets and publishers could be - and sometimes were - tried for sedition, it is not surprising that Burns, as John Glen (1900) points out, chose not to put his name to this political song. The song is a lament for the sense of loss suffered by Scotland following the Act of Union with England, in 1707. However, a keen sense of outrage also recurs throughout the song, as Burns contrasts the valour of Bruce and Wallace with the treacherous and corrupt politicians of 1707.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503397

Title

Volume II, song 378, page 391- 'Such a parcel of rogues in a nation' - 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

- 132 x 211 mm