Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/14

vi and Viols,' &c., printed by John Forbes, Aberdeen: first edition, 1662; other editions, 1666 and 1682. This collection, however, does not contain, properly speaking, a single Scottish song or Scottish melody, for it was not till nearly half a century later that the national music became fashionable. Some of the songs are taken from the 'Compendious Book of Godly and Spiritual Songs,' mentioned above, and other words are quoted from the old Scottish poets of the previous century: the music is chiefly English, and apparently adapted for church service.

About the close of the seventeenth century, a taste for Scottish music became prevalent among the upper classes of society, and Scottish airs were introduced at all places of public amusement in London and elsewhere. Thomas D'Urfey, an obscene humorist of this period, wrote several imitations of Scottish song, all of which are to be found in his 'Pills to Purge Melancholy,' collected in six vols., 1719; and his example was followed by other London poetasters. These 'Anglo- Scottish' productions (as Burns calls them) are generally of the most execrable character; but we have been obliged to give in the present collection two or three of the best, as they at one time held an established place among our Scottish songs. (See Notes to 'Jockey met wi' Jenny,' p. 145, 'Diel tak' the wars,' p. 177, 'As Jamie Gay gang'd blythe his way,' 176, 'My Jeanie and I,' 317, 'Glancing of her Apron,' 522, 'Sweet Annie,' 550, &c.) A single verse of one of Tom D'Urfey's 'Scotch Songs' may be given here as a specimen of the whole. It is the original of 'Within a mile of Edinburgh town.'