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)
Nelly
O Jonny, I'm jealous when e'er ye discover, My Sentiments yielding, ye'll turn a loose Rover, And nought i' the warld wad vex my Heart sairer, If you prove unconstant, and fancy an fairer: Chorus
Grieve me, grieve me, Oh it wad grieve me!
A' the lang Night and Day, if you deceive me. |
(3)
Jonny
My Nelly, let never sic Fancies oppress ye, For while my Blood's warm I'll kindly caress ye; Your blooming saft Beauties first beeted Loves fire, Your Virtue and wit make it ay flame the higher. Chorus
Leave thee, leave thee, I'll never leave thee,
Gang the warld as it will, Dearest believe me. |
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(4)
Nelly
Then, Jonny, I frankly this Minute allow ye To think me your Mistress for Love gars me trew ye And gin ye prove fa'se, to ye'r sell be it said then, Ye'll win but sma' Honour to wrang a kind maiden Chorus
Reave me, reave me, Heav'ns! It wad reave me,
Of my Rest Night and Day if ye deceive me. |
(5)
Jonny
Bid Iceshogles hammer red Gauds on ye Studdy, And fair Simmer Mornings nae mair appear ruddy Bid Britons think ae Gate, and when they obey ye But never till that Time, believe I'll betray ye: Chorus
Leave thee, leave thee, I'll never leave thee,
The Starns shall gang withershins e'er I deceive thee. |