Familiar Songs - Their Authors & Histories

300 traditional songs, inc sheet music with full piano accompaniment & lyrics.

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	TOUCH US GENTLY, TIME.		399
	Touch us gently, Time! Let us glide adown thy stream Gently — as we sometimes glide Through a quiet dream. Humble voyagers are we — Husband, wife, and children three — (One is lost — an angel, fled To the azure overheard.)	Touch us gently, Time ! We've not proud nor soaring wings; Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things. Humble voyagers are we, O'er Life's dim, unsounded sea, Seeking only some calm clime — Touch us gently, gentle Time!
	JOHN ANDERSON, MY JO. There was a very ancient fragment of song which bore this name, and tradition points to the town piper of Kelso, a famous wag, as the original John. The tune is very old. As early as 1578, it was found written in Queen Elizabeth's " Virginal Book." Some English author­ities think it is a modification of an ancient English air, " I am the Duke of Norfolk." Moore altered it, and included it among his Irish melodies, under the title of " Cruiskin Lawn." Only the two stanzas really written by Burns are given here, although many by inferior hands have been added from time to time. Perhaps the one most familiarly asso­ciated with Burns's fines, is the following stanza, by William Keid, who was a bookseller in Glasgow, and a personal friend of Burns. John Anderson, my jo, John, When Nature first began To try her canny hand, John, Her masterpiece was man; And you amang them a', John, Sae trig frae tap to toe — She proved to be nae journeyman, John Anderson, my jo.