No More Learning

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MY DEAR JOCKIE.

Another Anglo-Scottish production.

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FYE, GAE RUB HER O'ER WI' STRAE.

It is self-evident that the first four lines of this song are part of
a song more ancient than Ramsay's beautiful verses which are annexed
to them. As music is the language of nature; and poetry, particularly
songs, are always less or more localized (if I may be allowed the
verb) by some of the modifications of time and place, this is the
reason why so many of our Scots airs have outlived their original, and
perhaps many subsequent sets of verses; except a single name or
phrase, or sometimes one or two lines, simply to distinguish the tunes
by.

To this day among people who know nothing of Ramsay's verses, the
following is the song, and all the song that ever I heard:

"Gin ye meet a bonnie lassie,
Gie her a kiss and let her gae;
But gin ye meet a dirty hizzie,
Fye, gae rub her o'er wi' strae.

Fye, gae rub her, rub her, rub her,
Fye, gae rub her o'er wi' strae:
An' gin ye meet dirty hizzie,
Fye, gae rub her o'er wi' strae. "

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THE LASS O' LIVISTON.

The old song, in three eight-line stanzas, is well known, and has
merit as to wit and humour; but it is rather unfit for insertion. --It
begins,

"The Bonnie lass o' Liviston,
Her name ye ken, her name ye ken,
And she has written in her contract
To lie her lane, to lie her lane. "
&c. &c.

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THE LAST TIME I CAME O'ER THE MOOR.

Ramsay found the first line of this song, which had been preserved as
the title of the charming air, and then composed the rest of the
verses to suit that line. This has always a finer effect than
composing English words, or words with an idea foreign to the spirit
of the old title.
Where old titles of songs convey any idea at all, it
will generally be found to be quite in the spirit of the air.

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JOCKIE'S GRAY BREEKS.

Though this has certainly every evidence of being a Scottish air, yet
there is a well-known tune and song in the north of Ireland, called
"The Weaver and his Shuttle O," which, though sung much quicker, is
every note the very tune.

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THE HAPPY MARRIAGE.

Another, but very pretty Anglo-Scottish piece.

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THE LASS OF PATIE'S MILL.

In Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland, this song is localized
(a verb I must use for want of another to express my idea) somewhere
in the north of Scotland, and likewise is claimed by Ayrshire. --The
following anecdote I had from the present Sir William Cunningham, of
Robertland, who had it from the last John, Earl of Loudon. The then
Earl of Loudon, and father to Earl John before mentioned, had Ramsay
at Loudon, and one day walking together by the banks of Irvine water,
near New-Mills, at a place called Patie's Mill, they were struck with
the appearance of a beautiful country girl. His lordship observed that
she would be a fine theme for a song. --Allan lagged behind in
returning to Loudon Castle, and at dinner produced this identical
song.

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THE TURNIMSPIKE.

There is a stanza of this excellent song for local humour, omitted in
this set. --Where I have placed the asterisms.

"They tak the horse then by te head,
And tere tey mak her stan', man;
Me tell tem, me hae seen te day,
Tey no had sic comman', man. "

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HIGHLAND LADDIE.