The Canongate Burns

by Robert Burns

  or The Laddies by the Banks o’ Nith

  Tune: Up and Waur Them a’, Willie

  First printed in The Spirit of British Song, Glasgow, 1826.

  The Laddies by the banks o’ Nith

  Wad trust his Grace wi’ a’, Jamie; would

  But he’ll sair them as he sair’d the King serve

  Turn tail and rin awa, Jamie. run away

  Chorus

  5 Up and waur them a’, Jamie, overcome

  Up and waur them a’;

  The Johnstones hae the guidin o’t, have

  Ye turncoat Whigs awa! away

  The day he stude his country’s friend, stood

  10 Or gied her faes a claw, Jamie, gave, foes

  Or frae puir man a blessin wan, from poor, won

  That day the Duke ne’er saw, Jamie.

  Up and waur them a’, &c.

  But wha is he, his country’s boast? who

  Like him there is na twa, Jamie; not two

  15 There’s no a callant tents the kye, youth, tends, cattle

  But kens o’ Westerha’, Jamie. knows

  Up and waur them a’, &c.

  To end the wark, here’s Whistlebirk,1 work

  Lang may his whistle blaw, Jamie; long, blow

  And Maxwell2 true, o’ sterling blue;

  20 And we’ll be Johnstones a’, Jamie.

  Up and waur them a’, &c.

  This was written during the Dumfriesshire election in the winter of 1789 to support Sir James Johnstone of Westerhall. Burns sent a copy to Graham of Fintry on 9th December, 1789, remarking with eloquent sarcasm on the Duke of Queensberry, who presented Patrick Miller Junior as his puppet Whig candidate —

  The Great Man here, like all Renegadoes, is a flaming Zealot … despised I suppose by the Party who took him in to be a mustering faggot at the mysterious orgies of their midnight iniquities, and a useful drudge in the dirty work of their Country Elections, he would fain persuade this part of the world that he is turned Patriot … has the impudence to aim away at the unmistrusting manner of a Man of Conscience and Principle. – Nay, to such an intemperate height has his zeal carried him, that, in convulsive violence to every feeling in his bosom, he has made some desperate attempts at the hopeless business of getting himself a character for benevolence and in one or two late terrible strides in pursuit of Party-interest, has actually stumbled on something like meaning the welfare of his fellow-creatures … his sins … of Omission … to this out-raged Land … known … by the mischiefs he does … a character one cannot speak with patience (Letter 373).

  The song, though, does not match the prose quality, blaming the Duke of Queensberry as a traitor to the Jacobite cause (l. 3). Although Patrick Miller senior was the poet’s Ellisland landlord, his son was judged by Burns as a money-loving puppet for the Duke of Queensberry. The song reveals, not so much that Burns supported a Tory candidate but that he deeply despised the Duke of Queensberry and his chicanery.

  1 Alexander Birtwhistle, provost of Kirkcudbright.

  2 Robert Maxwell, Provost of Lochmaben.

  The Laddies by the Banks o’ Nith

  An Early Variant of the above Election Ballad

  As I cam doon the Banks o’ Nith came down

  And by Glenriddel’s ha’, man, hall

  There I heard a piper play

  Turn-coat Whigs awa, man.

  5 Drumlanrig’s towers hae tint the powers lost

  That kept the lands in awe, man:

  The eagle’s dead, and in his stead

  We’ve gotten a hoodie-craw, man. carrion-crow

  The turn-coat Duke his King forsook,

  10 When his back was at the wa’, man:

  The rattan ran wi’ a’ his clan rat

  For fear the house should fa’, man. fall

  The lads about the Banks o’ Nith,

  They trust his Grace for a’, man:

  15 But he’ll sair them as he sair’t his King, serve

  Turn tail and rin awa, man. run

  This early variant of the above ballad is substantially different from the completed song. It is therefore included here separately. The text is taken from the Rosebery MS sent to Graham of Fintry and is included as a footnote by Kinsley (K270, p. 382) but not by Mackay, who prints only the main ballad. Glenriddell was himself a leading Whig polemicist and it is clear that he, as well as the poet, disliked the choice of Whig candidate (see above notes).

  The Five Carlins – A Ballad

  Tune: Chevy Chase

  First printed in Duncan, at Glasgow, 1800.

  Written during the contested Election between Sir James Johnston and Captain Miller for the Dumfries district of Boroughs. R.B.

  There was five Carlins in the South, old women (boroughs)

  They fell upon a scheme,

  To send a lad to Lon’on town

  To bring them tidings hame. — home

  5 Nor only bring them tidings hame,

  But do their errands there;

  And aiblins gowd and honor baith maybe, both

  Might be that laddie’s share. —

  There was Maggy by the banks o’ Nith,1

  10 A dame wi’ pride eneugh; enough

  And Marjory o’ the mony Lochs,2 many

  A Carlin auld and teugh: woman/hag, tough

  And Blinkin Bess of Annandale3

  That dwelt near Solway-side;

  15 And Brandy Jean that took her gill4

  In Galloway sae wide: so

  And Black Jöan frae Crichton-peel5 from

  O’ gipsey kith an’ kin:

  Five wighter Carlins were na found stronger, not

  20 The South Coontrie within. — Country

  To send a lad to London town,

  They met upon a day;

  And mony a knight and mony a laird many

  That errand fain wad gae. — would go

  25 O mony a knight and mony a laird

  That errand fain wad gae;

  But nae ane could their fancy please, not one

  O ne’er a ane but tway. — one, two

  The first ane was a belted Knight, one

  30 Bred of a Border band,

  And he wad gae to London town,

  Might nae man him withstand. — no

  And he wad do their errands weel, would, well

  And meikle he wad say; much, would

  35 And ilka ane at London Court each one

  Wad bid to him, Gude-day! would

  The neist cam in a Sodger-boy next, soldier

  And spak wi’ modest grace, spoke

  And he wad gang to London Town, would go

  40 If sae their pleasure was. — so

  He wad na hecht them courtly gifts, would not promise

  Nor meikle speech pretend; great

  But he wad hecht an honest heart would promise

  Wad ne’er desert his friend. — would

  45 Now wham to chuse, and wham refuse, whom

  At strife thae Carlins fell; they

  For some had Gentle Folk to please,

  And some wad please themsel. — would

  Then out spak mim-mou’d Meg o’ Nith, prim-mouthed

  50 And she spak up wi’ pride, spoke

  And she wad send the Sodger-lad, would

  Whatever might betide. —

  For the Auld Guidman o’ London Court,

  She didna care a pin; did not

  55 But she wad send the Sodger-lad, would

  To greet his eldest son. —

  Then started Bess of Annandale,

  A deadly aith she’s taen, oath, taken

  That she wad vote the Border-knight, would

  60 Tho’ she should vote her lane. — alone

  ‘For far-aff fowls hae feathers fair, -off, have

  ‘And fools o’ change are fain;

  ‘But I hae try’d this Border Knight,

  I’ll try him yet again.’—

  65 Says Black Jöan frae Crichton-peel, from

  A Carlin stoor and
grim; harsh

  ‘The Auld Gudeman, or the young Gudeman,

  For me may sink or swim.

  ‘For Fools will prate o’ Right, or Wrang, talk

  70 While knaves laugh them to scorn;

  But the Sodger’s friends hae blawn the best, have talked

  So he shall bear the horn’. —

  Then Brandy Jean spak owre her drink, spoke over

  ‘Ye weel ken, kimmers a’, well know, gossips

  75 ‘The Auld Gudeman o’ London Court,

  His back’s been at the wa’:

  ‘And mony a friend that kiss’d his caup, cup

  Is now a fremit wight; hostile

  But it’s ne’er be sae wi’ Brandy Jean, so

  80 We’ll send the Border-Knight.’ —

  Then slaw rase Marjory o’ the lochs, slow rose

  And wrinkled was her brow;

  Her ancient weed was russet-grey,

  Her auld Scots heart was true. — old

  85 ‘There ’s some Great Folk set light by me, unrespected

  I set as light by them;

  But I will send to London town

  Wham I lo’e best at hame.’ — whom, love, home

  Sae how this weighty plea may end, so

  90 Nae mortal wight can tell: no

  God grant the King and ilka man, every

  May look weel to themsel. — well

  In the same vein as Election Ballad For Westerha’ this was written, as the headnote records, to support Sir James Johnstone in the election for the five boroughs of Dumfries in 1789. Each of the boroughs is represented in the song as an old woman or carlin. The reference to the ‘Auld Guidman’ and ‘Young Guidman’ of the London court, means King George III and the Prince of Wales, respectively. Captain Miller, the Whig candidate who won the election, was only 20 years old. He went on to represent the Dumfries Boroughs until 1796. As mentioned in notes to the Election Ballad for Westerha’, Burns thought him the puppet of the Duke of Queensberry. It was the young Miller who later, in 1794, relayed to Burns the invitation from James Perry, proprietor and editor of The Morning Chronicle, for Burns to join the literary staff of his Opposition newspaper.

  1 Dumfries. R.B.

  2 Lochmaben. R.B.

  3 Annan. R.B.

  4 Kirkcudbright. R.B.

  5 Sanquar (Crichton old castle, or Peel). R.B.

  Epistle to Dr. Blacklock

  First printed in Currie, 1800.

  Wow, but your letter made me vauntie! proud

  And are ye hale, and weel, and cantie? well, cheerful

  I kend it still, your wee bit jauntie knew, small journey

  Wad bring ye to: would

  5 Lord send you ay as weel’s I want ye, always, well as

  And then ye’ll do. —

  The Ill-thief blaw the Heron south!1 devil

  And never drink be near his drouth! thirst

  He tauld mysel, by word o’ mouth, told

  10 He’d tak my letter;

  I lippen’d to the chiel in trouth, trusted, man

  And bade nae better. — no

  But aiblins honest Master Heron maybe

  Had at the time some dainty Fair One,

  15 To ware his theologic care on,

  And holy study:

  And, tired o’ Sauls to waste his lear on, souls, learning

  E’en tried the Body. —

  But what d’ye think, my trusty Fier, friend

  20 I’m turned a Gauger — Peace be here! exciseman

  Parnassian Quines, I fear, I fear, females [Muses]

  Ye’ll now disdain me,

  And then my fifty pounds a year

  Will little gain me. —

  25 Ye glaiket, gleesome, dainty Damies, silly, giddy

  Wha by Castalia’s wimplin streamies who, meandering

  Lowp, sing, and lave your pretty limbies, leap, bathe

  Ye ken, ye ken, know

  That Strang necessity supreme is strong

  30 ’Mang sons o’ Men. —

  I hae a wife and twa wee laddies, have, two small

  They maun hae brose and brats o’ duddies; must have food & clothes

  Ye ken yoursels my heart right proud is, know

  I need na vaunt; not boast

  35 But I’ll sned besoms and thraw saugh woodies, cut, twist willow withies

  Before they want. —

  Lord help me thro’ this warld o’ care!

  I’m weary sick o’t late and air! early

  Not but I hae a richer share have

  40 Than mony ithers; many others

  But why should ae man better fare, one

  And a’ Men brithers! brothers

  Come, Firm Resolve take thou the van,

  Thou stalk o’ carl-hemp in man! strength

  45 And let us mind, faint heart ne’er wan remember, won

  A lady fair:

  Wha does the utmost that he can, who

  Will whyles do mair. — often, more

  But to conclude my silly rhyme,

  50 (I’m scant o’ verse and scant o’ time,) short

  To make a happy fireside clime

  To weans and wife, children

  That’s the true Pathos and Sublime

  Of Human life. —

  55 My Compliments to Sister Beckie;

  And eke the same to honest Lucky,

  I wat she is a daintie Chuckie bet, hen

  As e’er tread clay!

  And gratefully my gude auld Cockie, good old cockerel

  60 I’m yours for ay. — always

  Robert Burns, Ellisland, 21st Oct., 1789.

  This was the poet’s reply to a letter epistle from the Rev. Dr Thomas Blacklock (1721–91), dated from Edinburgh, 24th August, 1789. Blacklock was born at Annan, the son of English parents. He was blinded as a child by smallpox. He graduated as a divinity student in Edinburgh. In practising religion in Kirkcudbright, parishioners found his blindness a problem. He moved back to Edinburgh in 1765 and set up a boarding school. He eventually printed his own volume of poetry, contributing songs to the Scots Musical Museum. Blacklock, by this time virtually a cult figure, contacted Burns after reading his Kilmarnock edition and suggested a larger edition to be printed in Edinburgh, which, according to the poet ‘overthrew all my schemes by rousing my poetic ambition’ (Letter 125). If Blacklock helped persuade Burns not to emigrate, he played a part in Scottish literature. Blacklock, who knew Dr Johnson, John Home and David Hume, was a minor Literati figure.

  The second stanza was indeed prophetic, describing as it does, Robert Heron as ‘The Ill-thief’ or devil. The letter given by Burns to Robert Heron to pass on to Dr Blacklock never reached Blacklock (see Introduction).

  1 Robert Heron was born in 1764 at New Galloway, the son of a weaver. He attended the University of Edinburgh after working as an assistant to Hugh Blair and was a prolific literary hack.

  Written under the Portrait of Miss Burns

  First printed in Duncan, Glasgow, 1801.

  Cease, ye prudes, your envious railing,

  Lovely Burns has charms — confess;

  True it is, she had one failing,

  Had ae woman ever less?

  Miss Margaret Burns was an Edinburgh prostitute who came originally from Durham, the daughter of a merchant. With a friend she set up a brothel in Rose Street, near to Lord Stonefield’s home. It is reputed that the daughters of the Lord took action against her and she was banished from Edinburgh. An appeal at the Court of Session on 12th December, 1789 went in her favour and she was allowed to stay in Edinburgh. She died in 1792. Burns appears to have known her given his remarks to Peter Hill on 2nd February, 1790, ‘… how is the fate of my poor Namesake, Mademoiselle Burns, decided?’ (Letter 387). He goes on in the letter to condemn the hypocrisy of judges who, as he asserts, have, for over 6000 years, taken advantage of such female frailty: ‘shall the unfortunate sacrifice to thy pleasures have no claim on thy humanity!’ Edinburgh prostitutes were ‘advertised’ in an annual
pocketbook printed exclusively for ‘gentlemen’, which gave descriptions of each woman, not least their dental state, and where they were to be picked up.

  Green Sleeves

  or My Fiddle and I

  First printed in Barke, 1955.

  Green sleeves and tartan ties

  Mark my truelove where she lies;

  I’ll be at her or she rise,

  My fiddle and I thegither. — together

  Be it by the chrystal burn,

  Be it by the milk-white thorn,

  I shall rouse her in the morn,

  My fiddle and I thegither. —

  This is the poet’s modification of the Elizabethan Greensleeves, the song of the inconstant female lover. The melody was still popular in the eighteenth century. Fiddling is employed as an obvious sexual metaphor in this erotic lyric. Professor De Lancey Ferguson believes this song is traditional and was merely copied by Burns. Kinsley disagrees (Vol. III, pp. 1324–5). Although there are two manuscript copies, there is no definite proof either way.

  To a Gentleman

  Who Had Sent a Newspaper and Offered to Continue it Free of Expense

  First printed in Currie, 1800.

  KIND SIR, I’ve read your paper through,

  And faith, to me ’twas really new!

  How guessed ye, Sir, what maist I wanted? most

  This mony a day I’ve grain’d and gaunted, groaned, gaped

  5 To ken what French mischief was brewin; know