CCLIII.
TO MR. THOMSON.
[The letter to which this is in part an answer, Currie says, contains many observations on Scottish songs, and on the manner of adapting the words to the music, which at Mr. Thomson’s desire are suppressed.]
April, 1793.
I have yours, my dear Sir, this moment. I shall answer it and your former letter, in my desultory way of saying whatever comes uppermost.
The business of many of our tunes wanting, at the beginning, what fiddlers call a starting-note, is often a rub to us poor rhymers.
“There’s braw, braw lads on Yarrow braes,
That wander through the blooming heather,”
you may alter to
“Braw, braw lads on Yarrow braes,
Ye wander,” &c.
My song, “Here awa, there awa,” as amended by Mr. Erskine, I entirely approve of, and return you.