Familiar Songs - Their Authors & Histories

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AX NIE LAURIE.		365
" Sir Eobert Laurie, first baronet of the Maxwellton family (created 27th March, 1685), by his second wife, a daughter of Eiddello, Minto, had three sons, and four daughters, of whom Anne was much celebrated for her beauty, and made a conquest of Mr. Dotjglas, of Fingland, who composed the following verses, under an unlucky star—for the lady married Mr. Ferguson, of Craigdarroch." These are the original words:—
Maxwellton braes are bonnie, Where early fa's the dew; Where me and Annie Laurie Made up the promise true; Made up the promise true, And never forget will I, And for bonnie Annie Laurie I'll lay me down and die.	She's backit like the peacock, She's briestit like the swan; She's jimp about the middle, Her waist ye weel micht span; Her waist ye weel micht span, And she has a rolling eye, And for Bonnie Annie Laurie, I'll lay me me down and die.
The present air of " Annie Laurie," is the composition of Lady John Scott, authoress of both words and music of many songs, which have become popular in her own country. Her maiden name was Alicia Anne Spottiswoode. She married, in 1836, Lord John Douglass Scott, a son of the Duke of Buccleuch. A collection of Lady Scott's musical compositions has been published in London. Andante.