Volume III, song 210, pages 218 and 219 - 'The Highland Character' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'In the garb of old Gaul, with the fire of old Rome, from the heath cover'd mountains of Scotia we come, Where the Romans endeavour'd our country to gain, But our Ancestors fought, and they fought not in vain.' Chorus: 'Such our love of liberty, our country and our laws, That like our Ancestors of old, we stand by freedoms cause, We'll bravely fight like heroes bold for honour and applause; And defy the French with all their art to alter our laws.' 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 Robert Riddell of Glenriddell, friend of Robert Burns and fellow commentator on the 'Museum', 'this tune was the composition of Gen. Reid and called by him 'The Highland, or 42d Regiment's march'. The words are by 'Sir Harry Erskine''. It is worth noting that 'Sir Harry', in Riddell's note, is actually written in Burns's handwriting. The melody is more familiarly known by part of the first line of the song, 'In the garb of old Gaul'.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503407

Title

Volume III, song 210, pages 218 and 219 - 'The Highland Character' - 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

- 263 x 211 mm