MY ONLY JO AND DEARIE. Thy cheek is o' the rose's hue, O sweet's the twinkle o' thine e'e! Nae joy, nae pleasure, blinks on me, The birdie sings upon the thorn It's sang o' joy, fu' cheerie-o, Rejoicing in the simmer morn, Nae care to make it eerie-o; But little kens the sangster sweet Aught o' the cares I hae to meet, That gar my restless bosom beat, My only jo and dearie-o. Whan we were bairnies on yon brae, Our joys fu' sweet and monie-o: I hae a wish I canna tine, 'Mang a' the cares that grieve me-o; And never mair to leave me-o: I remember when this song was exceedingly popular : its sweetness and ease rather than its originality and vigour might be the cause of its success. The third verse contains a very beautiful picture of early attachment-a sunny bank and some sweet soft school-girl, will appear to many a fancy when these lines are sung. It was written by Richard Gall. Ae fond kiss, and then we sever; Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy, We had ne'er been broken-hearted ! . Fare thee well, thou first and fairest! Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, Burns wrote this moving song about the year 1790— Like Thomson he laments the cruelty of fortune: but there is more passion in his complaint; and he seems to have drunk deeply of joy before he parted with the cup. Of the heroine I cannot speak with certainty; but the poet I believe has named her right—the song is more creditable to her charms than to her good name. AGAIN REJOICING NATURE SEES. Again rejoicing Nature sees Her robe assume its vernal hues, In vain to me the cowslips blaw, In vain to me, in glen or shaw, The mavis and the lintwhite sing. Come, Winter, with thine angry howl, I have removed from this fine song the idle encumbrance of an adopted chorus; it interrupted the flow of the narrative, and was at open war with the sentiment of each verse. The chorus was joyous and the song mournful. It is one of the earliest printed lyrics of Burns. O WERE I ON PARNASSUS' HILL. O were I on Parnassus' hill! To sing how dear I love thee. ; Then come, sweet Muse, inspire my lay, I cou❜dna sing, I cou'dna say How much, how dear I love thee. |