Castlebay - Rantin Rovin Robin: Songs of Robert Burns

ROBERT BURNS (January 25 1759- July 21 1796) The Man, The Myth & The Music by Castlebay- Julia Lane & Fred Gosbee Robert Burns, Scotland's National Poet, lived in a turbulent and vibrant era. For all of his brief life, he was an extraordinary man; not only a man of his time but for the ages. The son of a painfully poor Scottish Lowland farmer, he worked physically hard most of his life. Generally painted as a romantic rake, he was also a passionate advocate for the common person and his works reflect his revolutionary views. He lived freely, testing limits and questioning authority. Amazingly, he was never prosecuted for his behavior and in fact became celebrated by a broad spectrum of society. Working in the Scots vernacular as well as in English, farm workers and aristocrats alike responded to his forthright and romantic writings which extolled the virtues of honesty, chivalry, hard work and joyous living while deploring exploitation and duplicity.In spite of all his blunders, he did try to live by his word. A great deal is known about his inner life as most of his myriad letters are preserved in addition to his many public writings. He also contributed heavily to Johnson's 'Scots Musical Museum', probably the most important collection of 18th century Scottish song. Burns gathered songs from the people around him, often revising or "mending" them, and included much of his original work. As a result the Museum embodies a living tradition combining innovation and musical anthropology. On this recording, Castlebay intends to portray the many facets of the life of Burns, not only through the selection of the songs, but in their arrangements. Rather than pretending historic authenticity of performance, we look to convey the spirit in which we believe they were created. The ensemble (lever harp, fiddle, baroque flute, whistle, guitar, cello) is typical of an 18th century convivial musical gathering. NOTES ON THE SONGS 1) RANTIN' ROVIN' ROBIN Tune- Dainty Davie An autobiographical song in the form of a prophecy by the palm-reading midwife who attended Burns' birth written by a 27 year old man well pleased with himself . The "Monarch's hindmost year" refers to the year before the death of KIng George.The "blast o' Januar wind" was a gale which did, in fact, blow down the chimney wall of the house William Burness, his father, had built. Young Robert and his mother were removed to a neighbor's house while repairs were made. There was a lad was born in Kyle, But whatn'a day, o' whatn'a style I doot it's hardly worth the while Tae be sae nice wi' Robin For Robin was a rovin' boy, A rantin' rovin' rantin' rovin', Robin was a rovin' boy, A rantin' rovin' Robin. Oor Monarch's hindmost year but ane, Was five and twenty days begun' 'Twas then a blast o' Januar' win' Blew hansel in on Robin. The gossip keekit in his loof, Quo' scho,'Wha' lives shall see the proof, This waly boy will be nae cuif; I think we'll ca' him Robin'. He'll hae misfortunes great and sma' But aye a heart abune them a' He'll be a credit tae us a'; We'll a' be prood o' Robin. But sure as three times three mak' nine, I see by ilka score and line, This chap will dearly like oor kin' So leeze me on thee, Robin. 'Guid faith,' quo' scho, 'I doubt you Sir, Ye'll gar the lasses lie aspar; But twenty fauts ye may hae waur- So blessins on thee, Robin.' Glossary Kyle-old district of Ayrshire whatna- whatever, no matter doot- doubt ane- one hansel- good luck gift gossip-midwife keekit- peeked or glanced loof- palm of the hand scho- she wha'- whoever waly- healthy cuif- fool abune- above prood- proud ilka- every oor kin'- our kind; humanity leeze me on thee- here's to you gar- make aspar- with legs apart fauts- faults hae waur- have worse 2) GREEN GROW THE RASHES A classic ode in appreciation of women, this is one of Burns' many songs that appears in several versions each for different audiences. A blue version appears in the Merry Muses of Caledonia, a collection that will probably not be found in most public libraries. He generally is ecumenical in his expressions of his fondness for female company of all kinds. Biographer Alan Cunningham said ' Burns calls this inimitable song a fragment, and says it speaks the genuine language of his heart. The incense in the concluding verse is the richest any poet ever offered at the shrine of beauty." As with many of his works, Burns based his song on one he heard in his daily ramblings, possibly the following The down bed, the feather bed, The bed amang the rashes, O ! Yet a' the beds are nae sae saft As the bosoms o' the lasses, O.' His last verse may have been influenced by 'Cupid's Whirly- gig,' published in 1607 'Oh! Who would abuse your sex who truly knows ye? O women, were we not bom of you ? Should we not, then, honour you ?... And since we were made before you, should we not love and admire you as the last, and, therefore, perfect work of nature ? Man was made when nature was but an apprentice; but woman, when she was a skilful mistress of her art; therefore, cursed is he that doth not admire those paragons, those models of heaven, angels on earth, goddesses in shape!' Chorus Green grow the rashes, O; Green grow the rashes, O; The sweetest hours that e'er I spend, Are spent amang the lasses, O. There's nought but care on ev'ry han', In ev'ry hour that passes, O: What signifies the life o' man, If 't was nae for the lasses, O? Green grow, &c. The war'ly race may riches chase, An' riches still may fly them, O; An' tho' at last they catch them fast, Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them, O. Green grow, &c. But gie me a cannie hour at e'en, My arms about my dearie, O; An' war'ly cares, an' war'ly men, May a' gae tapsalteerie, O! Green grow, &c. For you sae douce, ye sneer at this; Ye're nought but senseless asses, O: The wisest man the warl' e'er saw, He dearly lov'd the lasses, O. Green grow, &c. Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears Her noblest work she classes, O: Her prentice han' she try'd on man, An' then she made the lasses, O. Green grow, &c. rashes- reeds warly- worldly gie- give cannie- comfortable tapsalteerie- upside down douce- delicate 3) THE RANTIN' DOG, THE DADDIE O'T / MY LOVE SHE'S BUT A LASSIE YET Tune: East Neuk o' Fife In his notes for Johnson's Musical Museum, the author states "I composed this song pretty early in life, and sent it to a young girl, a very particular acquaintance of mine, who was at that time under a cloud." Alan Cunningham tells us "The heroine of this humorous ditty was the mother of 'Sonsie, smirking, dear-bought Bess,' " Although Elizabeth Paton, a servant to Burns' parents, was indeed the mother of his first child (also called Elizabeth) there is speculation that the song may have actually been written for Jean Armour who was also made pregnant by Burns out of wedlock. Burns never married Paton, contrary to the wishes of his mother, but he did provide a trust fund for little Elizabeth who was raised by her. He eventually married Jean Armour. O wha my babie-clouts will buy? O wha will tent me when I cry? Wha will kiss me where I lie? The rantin' dog, the daddie o't. O wha will own he did the faut? O wha will buy the groanin maut? O wha will tell me how to ca't? The rantin' dog, the daddie o't. When I mount the creepie-chair, Wha will sit beside me there? Gie me Rob, I'll seek nae mair, The rantin' dog, the daddie o't. Wha will crack to me my lane? Wha will mak me fidgin' fain? Wha will kiss me o'er again? The rantin' dog, the daddie o't. Wha- who clouts- diapers tent- heed rantin' -raucous, carefree faut- fault Groanin' maut- whisky for the midwife How to ca't- what to name it creepie chair- stool of repentance in church nae mair- no longer Crack- chat my lane- my loneliness fidgin' fain- eagerly ready 4) O' A' THE AIRTS Tune: Miss Admiral Gordon's Strathspey. His notes say 'This air is by Marshal; the song composed out of compliment to Mrs. Burns. N.B. - It was during the honeymoon.' While Burns was preparing a home at th