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)
O wow, quoth he, were I as free,
As first when I saw this Country, How blyth and merry I wad be? And I wad never think lang. He grew canty, and she grew fain; But little did her auld Minny ken, What thir slee twa togither were say'n, When wooing they were sa thrang. |
(3)
And O, quo' he, ann ye were as black,
As e'er the Crown of your Dady's Hat, 'Tis I wad lay thee by my Back, And awa' wi' me thou shou'd gang. And O, quoth she, ann I were as white, As e'er the Snaw lay on the Dike, I'd clead my braw, and Lady like, And awa with thee I'd gang. |
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(4)
Between the twa was made a Plot;
They raise a wee before the Cock, And wyliely they shot the Lock, And fast to the Bent are they gane Up the Morn the auld Wife raise, And at her Leasure pat on her Claiths, Syne to the Servants Bed she gaes, To speer for the silly poor Man. |
(5)
She gaed to the Bed, where the Beggar lay,
The Strae was cauld, he was away, She clapt her Hands, cry'd waladay, For some of our Gear will be gane. Some ran to Coffers, and some to Kists, But nought was stown that cou'd be mist, She danc'd her lane, cry'd, Praise be blest, I have lodg'd a leel poor Man. |
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(6)
Since naithings awa, as we can learn,
The Kirn's to kirn, and Milk to earn, Gae butt the House, Lass, and waken my Bairn, And bid her come quickly ben. The Servant gade where the Daugh[t]er lay, The Sheets was cauld, she was away, And fast to her Goodwife can say, She's aff with the Gaberlunzie-Man. |
(7)
O fy gar ride, and fy gar rin,
And hast ye find these Traitors again; For she's be burnt, and he's be slain, The wearyfou Gaberlunzie-Man. Some rade upo' Horse some ran a fit, The Wife was wood, and out o'[h]er wit; She cou'd na gang, nor yet cou'd she sit, But ay she curs'd and she ban'd. |
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(8)
Mean Time far hind out o'er the Lee,
Fou snug in a glen where nane cou'd see, The twa with kindly Sport and Glee, Cut frae a new Cheese a whang. The Priving was good, it pleas'd them baith, To lo'e her for ay, he gae her his aith, Quo' she, to leave thee, I will be laith, My winsome Gaberlunzie-Man. |
(9)
O kend my Minny I were wi' you,
I'll fardly wat she crook her Mou', Sic a poor Man she'd never trow, After the Gaberlunzie-Man. My Dear, quo' he, ye'r yet o'er young, And ha' na learn'd the Beggars Tongue, To follow me frae Town to Town, And carry the Gaberlunzie on. |
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(10)
Wi' Kauk and Keel I'll win your Bread,
And Spindles and whorles for them wha need, Whilk is a gentle Trade indeed, To carry the Gaberlunzie . . o. I'll bow my Legg and crook my Knee, And draw a black Clout o'er my Eye, A Criple or Blind they will ca' me, While we shall be merry and sing. |