Volume III, song 283, page 292 - 'Sandy and Jockie' -...
Volume III, song 283, page 292 - 'Sandy and Jockie' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)
'Twa bony lads were Sandy and Jockie; Jockie was lo'ed but Sandy unlucky, Jockie was laird baith of hills and of vallies, But Sandy was nought but the king o' gude fellows, Jockie lo'ed Madgie, for Madgie had money, And Sandie lo'ed Mary, for Mary was bony: Ane wedded for Love, Ane wedded for treasure. So Jockie had siller, And Sandy had pleasure.'
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.
During his researches for 'Early Scottish Melodies' (1900), John Glen came to the conclusion that this melody was very likely of Anglo-Scottish origin, 'or at least a parody on a song and tune of the Grub Street species'. Grub Street in London was famous for its community of impecunious writers and literary hacks. It has since become synonymous with writers of low-quality literature. Glen further noted that this tune appeared, under the title 'Jenny's Lamentation', in the first volume of 'Calliope, or Engish Harmony', published by Henry Roberts of London around 1739.
Volume III, song 283, page 292 - 'Sandy and Jockie' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)