Volume III, song 240, page 249 - 'The Siller Crown' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'And ye sall walk in silk attire, And siller hae to spare, Gin ye'll consent to be his bride, Nor think o' Donald marr. O, wha wad buy a silken gown, Wi' a poor broken heart, Or what's to me a siller crown Gin frae my love I part.' 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. It was originally thought that this song was published in sheet form by the printer and collector Napier, and then copied into the 'Museum'. There is, however, no longer any evidence of the sheet version. Napier later published a volume of songs, but this appeared simultaneously with the third volume of the 'Museum' and so had little bearing on the origin of the song. Patrick Maxwell Esq., an editor, believed the work to be that of his client, Miss Susanna Blamire. She was a society poet and is believed to have written some other lyrics for the 'Museum' including 'The Waefu' Heart' (song 243).

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503437

Title

Volume III, song 240, page 249 - 'The Siller Crown' - 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