Volume VI, song 574, page 593 - 'O lay thy loof in mine lass' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Chorus: 'O lay thy loof in mine lass, In mine lass, in mine lass, And swear on thy white hand lass, That thou wilt be my ain.' Verse 1: 'A slave to love's unbounded sway, He aft has wrought me meikle wae; But now, he is my deadly fae, Unless thou be my ain.' Chorus: 'O lay thy loof in mine lass, In mine lass, in mine lass, And swear on thy white hand lass, That thou wilt be my ain.' 'Loof' is the Old Scots word for palm. 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. The lyrics to this song were written by Robert Burns in 1796, and were probably intended for inclusion in the 'Museum'. The melody of the piece is entitled 'The Cordwainer's March', cordwainers being shoemakers. The song would have been performed at the head of their procession on their patron saint's, St Crispin's, day.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503769

Title

Volume VI, song 574, page 593 - 'O lay thy loof in mine lass' - 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

- 129 x 211 mm