The Highland Balou
The Highland Balou is certainly not one of Burns best known works but is a versification of an old gaelic nursery song "Cagaran Gaolach" supplied to him by a lady. No doubt picked up on his Highland Tour.
For clarification I give the meaning of the following words
balou - lullaby
Brawlie kens - Finely knows
Leeze - Blessings
craigie - throat
naigie - a horse
louns - fools
laigh - low
The time when the moss-troopers and cattle-drivers began their nightly depredations was the first Michaelmas moon. Cattle stealing was a mere foraging expedition, and it has been said that many of the best families in the north can trace their descent from the daring sons of the mountains. The reason being that the produce, by way of dowry to a lairds daughter, of a "Michaelmas moon" was commonplace and by the aid of "Lochiels lantern" (the moon) these raids were were most desirable.
This lullaby is being sung by a mother to her child ( so poor that they own nothing ) in the hope that he grows up strong enough to firstly steal a horse then cross the border to steal the cattle and presumably marry into a fortune.
The Winter it is Past
also The Curragh of Kildare.
The Winter is based on a ballad about the notorious Irish Highwayman Johnson, hanged in 1759 for armed robbery at the Curragh, Kildare.
This song first appeared in Johnson's second volume of the Musical Museum. The second verse is undoubtedly the work of Burns ( The rose upon the brier )
The Curragh is originally a ballad of 8 verses.
The Kirk's Alarm
The Ayr Presbytery, in Burns day, was noted for possessing among its members, a majority who held liberal or New Licht opinions, and Dr McGill published in 1786 "A Practical Essay on the Death of Christ"
This provoked opposition from the more rigid party in the Church. Dr William Peebles ( frae the water fit ) denounced it as heretical. This brought a pamphlet from McGill in reply and the case was brought into the Church courts with intense public interest. McGill was constrained to recant, which disappointed his supporters.
Burns poem backs McGill and he sent this to a few friends with the explicit proviso that copies would not be made or distributed. The poem was first published in 1799.
Cock up your Beaver
This fragment, from Herd's collection, was much improved at the hands of Burns. The second verse is Burns own work.
When first my brave Johnny lad
came to this town,
He had a blue bonnet
that wanted a crown
But now he has gotten
a hat and a feather
Hey, brave Johnny lad
cock up your beaver! (meaning - beaver hat)
Cock up your beaver
and cock it fu' sprush (meaning - spruce)
We'll over the border
and gie them a brush
There's somebody there
we'll teach better behaviour
Hey, brave Johnny lad
cock up your beaver!
The original which Burns completely changed was as follows
Cock up your beaver
cock up your beaver
Hey, my Johnnie lad
cock up your beaver!
Cock up your beaver
and cock it nae wrang
We'll a' to England
ere it be lang.
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