The Modern Scottish Minstrel Volume I Part 7

ALEXANDER, DUKE OF GORDON.

Alexander, the fourth Duke of Gordon, was born in the year 1743, and died on the 17th of January 1827, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

Chiefly remembered as a kind patron of the poet Burns, his name is likewise ent.i.tled to a place in the national minstrelsy as the author of an excellent version of the often-parodied song, "Cauld Kail in Aberdeen." Of this song, the first words, written to an older tune, appeared in the second volume of Herd's "Collection," in 1776. These begin--

"Cauld kail in Aberdeen, And castocks in Strabogie; But yet I fear they 'll cook o'er soon, And never warm the cogie."

The song is anonymous, as is the version, first published in Dale's "Scottish Songs," beginning--

"There 's cauld kail in Aberdeen, And castocks in Strabogie, Where ilka lad maun hae his la.s.s, But I maun hae my cogie."

A third version, distinct from that inserted in the text, was composed by William Reid, a bookseller in Glasgow, who died in 1831. His song is scarcely known. The Duke's song, with which Burns expressed himself as being "charmed," was first published in the second volume of Johnson's "Musical Museum." It is not only gay and animating, but has the merit of being free of blemishes in want of refinement, which affect the others.

The "Bogie" celebrated in the song, it may be remarked, is a river in Aberdeens.h.i.+re, which, rising in the parish of Auchindoir, discharges its waters into the Deveron, a little distance below the town of Huntly. It gives its name to the extensive and rich valley of Strathbogie, through which it proceeds.

CAULD KAIL IN ABERDEEN.

There 's cauld kail in Aberdeen, And castocks in Strabogie; Gin I hae but a bonnie la.s.s, Ye 're welcome to your cogie.

And ye may sit up a' the night, And drink till it be braid daylight; Gi'e me a la.s.s baith clean and tight, To dance the reel o' Bogie.

In cotillions the French excel, John Bull loves country dances; The Spaniards dance fandangoes well; Mynheer an all'mande prances; In foursome reels the Scots delight, At threesomes they dance wondrous light, But twasomes ding a' out o' sight, Danced to the reel o' Bogie.

Come, lads, and view your partners weel, Wale each a blythesome rogie; I'll tak this la.s.sie to mysel', She looks sae keen and vogie.

Now, piper lads, bang up the spring, The country fas.h.i.+on is the thing, To pree their mou's ere we begin To dance the reel o' Bogie.

Now ilka lad has got a la.s.s, Save yon auld doited fogie, And ta'en a fling upon the gra.s.s, As they do in Strabogie.

But a' the la.s.ses look sae fain, We canna think oursel's to hain, For they maun hae their come again, To dance the reel o' Bogie.

Now a' the lads hae done their best, Like true men o' Strabogie, We 'll stop a while and tak' a rest, And tipple out a cogie.

Come now, my lads, and tak your gla.s.s, And try ilk ither to surpa.s.s, In wis.h.i.+ng health to every la.s.s, To dance the reel o' Bogie.

MRS GRANT OF CARRON.

Mrs Grant of Carron, the reputed author of one song, which has long maintained a favoured place, was a native of Aberlour, on the banks of the Spey, in the county of Banff. She was born about the year 1745, and was twice married--first, to her cousin, Mr Grant of Carron, near Elchies, on the river Spey, about the year 1763; and, secondly, to Dr Murray, a physician in Bath. She died at Bath about the year 1814.

In his correspondence with George Thomson, Burns, alluding to the song of Mrs Grant, "Roy's Wife," remarks that he had in his possession "the original words of a song for the air in the handwriting of the lady who composed it," which, he adds, "are superior to any edition of the song which the public has seen." He subsequently composed an additional version himself, beginning, "Canst thou leave me thus, my Katie?" but this, like others of the bard's conversions of Scottish songs into an English dress, did not become popular. The verses by his female friend, in which the lady is made to be the sufferer by misplaced affection, and commencing, "Stay, my Willie, yet believe me," though published, remain likewise in obscurity. "Roy's Wife" was originally written to an old tune called the "Ruffian's Rant," but this melody is now known by the name of its favourite words. The sentiment of the song is peculiarly pleasing. The rejected lover begins by loudly complaining of his wrongs, and the broken a.s.surances of his former sweetheart: then he suddenly recalls what were her good qualities; and the recollection of these causes him to forgive her marrying another, and even still to extend towards her his warmest sympathies.

ROY'S WIFE OF ALDIVALLOCH.

Roy's wife of Aldivalloch, Roy's wife of Aldivalloch, Wat ye how she cheated me As I cam' o'er the braes of Balloch!

She vow'd, she swore she wad be mine, She said she lo'ed me best o' onie; But, ah! the fickle, faithless quean, She 's ta'en the carl, and left her Johnnie!

Roy's wife, &c.

Oh, she was a canty quean, An' weel could dance the Hieland walloch!

How happy I, had she been mine, Or I been Roy of Aldivalloch!

Roy's wife, &c.

Her hair sae fair, her e'en sae clear, Her wee bit mou' sae sweet and bonnie!

To me she ever will be dear, Though she's for ever left her Johnnie!

Roy's wife, &c.

ROBERT COUPER, M.D.

Dr Couper was born in the parish of Sorbie, in Wigtons.h.i.+re, on the 22d of September 1750. His father rented the farm of Balsier in that parish.

With a view towards the ministry in the Scottish Church, he proceeded to the University of Glasgow in 1769; but being deprived of both his parents by death before the completion of the ordinary period of academical study, and his pecuniary means being limited, he quitted the country for America, where he became tutor to a family in Virginia. He now contemplated taking orders in the Episcopal Church, but on the outbreak of the War of Independence in 1776 he returned to Britain without fulfilling this intention. He resumed his studies at Glasgow preparatory to his seeking a surgeon's diploma; and he afterwards established himself as a medical pract.i.tioner in Newton-Stewart, a considerable village in his native county. From this place he removed to Fochabers, about the year 1788, on being recommended, by his friend Dr Hamilton, Professor of Anatomy at Glasgow, as physician to the Duke of Gordon. Before entering on this new sphere of practice, he took the degree of M.D. At Fochabers he remained till the year 1806, when he again returned to the south. He died at Wigton on the 18th January 1818. From a MS. Life of Dr Couper, in the possession of a gentleman in Wigton, and communicated to Dr Murray, author of "The Literary History of Galloway," these leading events of Dr Couper's life were first published by Mr Laing, in his "Additional Ill.u.s.trations to the Scots Musical Museum," vol. iv. p. 513.

Dr Couper published "Poetry, chiefly in the Scottish Language"

(Inverness, 1804), 2 vols. 12mo. Among some rubbish, and much tawdry versification, there is occasional power, which, however, is insufficient to compensate for the general inferiority. There are only a few songs, but these are superior to the poems; and those following are not unworthy of a place among the modern national minstrelsy.

KINRARA.

TUNE--_"Neil Gow."_

Red gleams the sun on yon hill-tap, The dew sits on the gowan; Deep murmurs through her glens the Spey, Around Kinrara rowan.

Where art thou, fairest, kindest la.s.s?

Alas! wert thou but near me, Thy gentle soul, thy melting eye, Would ever, ever cheer me.

The lav'rock sings among the clouds, The lambs they sport so cheerie, And I sit weeping by the birk: O where art thou, my dearie?

Aft may I meet the morning dew, Lang greet till I be weary; Thou canna, winna, gentle maid!

Thou canna be my dearie.

THE SHEELING.