No More Learning

M'Pherson, a daring robber, in the beginning of this century, was
condemned to be hanged at the assizes of Inverness. He is said, when
under sentence of death, to have composed this tune, which he called
his own lament or farewell.

Gow has published a variation of this fine tune as his own
composition, which he calls "The Princess Augusta. "

* * * * *


MY JO, JANET.

Johnson, the publisher, with a foolish delicacy, refused to insert the
last stanza of this humorous ballad.

* * * * *


THE SHEPHERD'S COMPLAINT.

The words by a Mr. R. Scott, from the town or neighbourhood of Biggar.

* * * * *


THE BIRKS OF ABERFELDY.

I composed these stanzas standing under the falls of Aberfeldy, at or
near Moness.

* * * * *


THE HIGHLAND LASSIE O.

This was a composition of mine in very early life, before I was known
at all in the world. My Highland lassie was a warm-hearted, charming
young creature as ever blessed a man with generous love. After a
pretty long tract of the most ardent reciprocal attachment, we met by
appointment on the second Sunday of May, in a sequestered spot by the
banks of Ayr, where we spent the day in taking a farewell before she
should embark for the West Highlands, to arrange matters among her
friends for our projected change of life.
At the close of autumn
following she crossed the sea to meet me at Greenock, where she had
scarce landed when she was seized with a malignant fever, which
hurried my dear girl to the grave in a few days, before I could even
hear of her last illness.

* * * * *


FIFE, AND A' THE LANDS ABOUT IT.

This song is Dr. Blacklock's. He, as well as I, often gave Johnson
verses, trifling enough perhaps, but they served as a vehicle to the
music.

* * * * *


WERE NA MY HEART LIGHT I WAD DIE.

Lord Hailes, in the notes to his collection of ancient Scots poems,
says that this song was the composition of a Lady Grissel Baillie,
daughter of the first Earl of Marchmont, and wife of George Baillie,
of Jerviswood.

* * * * *


THE YOUNG MAN'S DREAM.

This song is the composition of Balloon Tytler.

* * * * *


STRATHALLAN'S LAMENT.

This air in the composition of one of the worthiest and best-hearted
men living--Allan Masterton, schoolmaster in Edinburgh. As he and I
were both sprouts of Jacobitism we agreed to dedicate the words and
air to that cause.

To tell the matter-of-fact, except when my passions were heated by
some accidental cause, my Jacobitism was merely by way of _vive la
bagatelle. _

* * * * *


UP IN THE MORNING EARLY.

The chorus of this is old; the two stanzas are mine.

* * * * *


THE TEARS OF SCOTLAND.