Album Summary: William Thomson's Orpheus Caledonius (1725) was a landmark publication; the first ever large-scale collection of "Scotch Songs" in print — 50 songs arranged with un-figured bass, most with lyrics from Allan Ramsay's Scots Songs and Tea-Table Miscellany, plus an appendix of melodic reductions. It was an instant hit and in 1733, expanded into 2 volumes with 100 songs. Indeed, Thomson's Orpheus set the standard format for Scots Song settings for the rest of the eighteenth century, including those of Robert Burns in The Scots Musical Museum. This ScotMus.com album is a faithful reprint of the song arrangements from the historic 1st edition of 1725.
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(2)
How blyth ilk Morn was I to see,
The Swain come o'er the Hill? He Skipt the Burn and flew to me, I met him with good will. O the Broom, &c. |
(3)
I neither wanted Ew nor Lamb,
While his Flock near me lay, He gather'd in my Sheep at Een, And chear'd me a' the Day. O the Broom, &c. |
(4)
He tun'd his Pipe and Reed sae sweet,
The Birds stood listning by, Even the dull Cattle stood and gaz'd, Charm'd with his Melody, O the Broom, &c. |
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(5)
He did oblige me ev'ry Hour,
Cou'd I but faithfu' be, He staw my Heart, cou'd I refuse What e'er he ask'd of me? O the Broom, &c. |
(6)
My Doggie and my crooked Stick,
May now lye useless by, My Plaidy, Broach, and little Kitt, That held my wee Soup Whey, O the Broom, &c. |
(7)
Adieu, ye Cowdenknows adieu,
Farewel a' Pleasures there, Ye Gods restore to me my Swain, Is a' I crave or care. |
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[ chorus ]
O the Broom the bonny, bonny Broom,
The Broom of Cowdenknows, I wish I were at Hame again, To milk my Dadys Ews. |