The 'Scots Musical Museum' - Volume II, song137, page 144 - 'Willy was a wanton wag'

Volume II, song 137, page 144 - 'Willy was a wanton wag'

Introduction:

Verse 1:
'Willy was a wanton wag,
The blythest lad that e'er I saw.
At bridals still he bore the brag,
And carried ay the gree awa'.
His doublet was of Zetland shag,
And vow! But Willy he was braw,
And at his shoulder hung a tag,
That pleas'd the lasses best of a'.

'Wag' in this case refers to a contemptuous fellow and 'brag', apart from 'to boast', means to challenge to a feat or to defy. Finally, 'gree' in this instance refers to a prize or first place.

Image Rights Holder:

National Library of Scotland

Ref:

2297

Project:

754:Scots Musical Museum

Material:

Book

Dimensions:

130 x 211 mm

What:

The 'Scots Musical Museum' - Volume II, song137, page 144 - 'Willy was a wanton wag'

Subject:

The 'Scots Musical Museum' is the most important of the numerous eighteenth- and nineteenth-century collections of Scottish song. When the engraver James Johnson started work on the second volume of his collection in 1787, he enlisted Robert Burns as contributor and editor. Burns enthusiastically collected songs from various sources, often expanding or revising them, whilst including much of his own work. The resulting combination of innovation and antiquarianism gives the work a feel of living tradition.

Who:

William Thomson (publisher and song collector)

William Clarke (c. 1755-1820) (musical editor for Volume VI of the 'Scots Musical Museum')

Stephen Clarke (c. 1735-97) (musical editor)

James Johnson (c. 1750-1811) (printer / publisher / engraver / editor)

Robert Burns (1759-96) (song collector / composer / editor)

Agnes Hume (song collector)

When:

Between 1787 and 1803 (first publication of the 'Scots Musical Museum')

Where:

The National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh

Background:

The 'Scots Musical Museum' is the most important of the numerous eighteenth- and nineteenth-century collections of Scottish song. When the engraver James Johnson started work on the second volume of his collection in 1787, he enlisted Robert Burns as contributor and editor. Burns enthusiastically collected songs from various sources, often expanding or revising them, whilst including much of his own work. The resulting combination of innovation and antiquarianism gives the work a feel of living tradition.

Description:

Whilst this song appeared in a later volume or edition of William Thomson's 'Orpheus Caledonius', in 1733, the tune itself is generally believed to be much older than that date. According to Glen (1900) the tune, under the title 'Lady Streathelens Tune', was included in Agnes Hume's Manuscript Music Book of 1704 and 'is almost identical with the version now sung'.