| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
STORIES OF
We should be thankful to Scott and Burns though, for preserving these old songs in new dresses, for their first clothing was very scanty and often indecent As witness the words of the first" John Anderson, my Jo," a provokingly coarse song adapted to a fine church melody ; and "John, come kiss me now," "We're a noddm'," and many other songs now clarified and made classic. Burns has immortalized " John Anderson, my Jo," and the lyric is as familiar as household words. One of its pre-decessors, dating from about 1560, opens in this inviting manner:
" John Anderson, my jo, cum in as ze gae by, And ze sail get a sheip's heil weel baken in a pye; Weel baken in a pye, and the haggis in a pat, John Anderson, my jo, cum in and ze's get that."
It was the phrase that caught Burns, and he has made it his own. Many imitators have tried their hand at this song, notably in a Dunblane continuation of the song. Avery clever imita-tion is to be found in the " Universal Songster," 1825, entitled " Jean Anderson," written by J. Mackey. It is well and feelingly written.
The songs of the Jacobites and the songs of the Covenanters have their especial interest, and have, fortunately, been carefully preserved for
98 |
||