CCLXXIII.
TO MR. THOMSON.
[This is another of the sagacious letters on Scottish song, which poets and musicians would do well to read and consider.]
Sept. 1793.
I have received your list, my dear Sir, and here go my observations on it.[239]
“Down the burn, Davie.” I have this moment tried an alteration, leaving out the last half of the third stanza, and the first half of the last stanza, thus:
As down the burn they took their way,
And thro’ the flowery dale;
His cheek to hers he aft did lay,
And love was aye the tale.
With “Mary, when shall we return,
Sic pleasure to renew?”
Quoth Mary, “Love, I like the burn,
And aye shall follow you.”[240]
“Thro’ the wood, laddie”—I am decidedly of opinion that both in this, and “There’ll never be peace till Jamie comes hame,” the second or high part of the tune being a repetition of the first part an octave higher, is only for instrumental music, and would be much better omitted in singing.
“Cowden-knowes.” Remember in your index that the song in pure English to this tune, beginning,