Annotation:What ails this heart a mine (1)

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WHAT AILS THIS HEART OF MINE. AKA and see "My Dearie an thou die." Scottish, English; Air (whole time). B Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The song was written by Susanna Blamire (1747-1794) of Carlisle, and set by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) ["What ails this heart of mine", Hob. XXXIa:244, JHW. XXXII/4 no. 327]. It is the second song in the Scots Musical Museum (with "O, Mary, turn awa'") set to the older air "My Dearie an thou die."

What ails this heart of mine,
What means this wat'ry ee?
What makes me ay turn cauld as death,
When I tak' leave o' thee?
When thou art far awa',
Thou'lt dearer grow to me;
But change o' place, and change o' folk
May gar thy fancy jee.

Then I'll sit down and moan,
Beneath yon spreading tree,
And gin a leaf fa' in my lap,
I'll ca't a word frae thee!
Syne I'll gang to the bower
Which thou wi' roses tied,
'Twas there by mony a blushing bud
I strove my love to hide.

I'll doat on ilka spot
Where I ha'e been wi' thee;
I'll ca' to mind some fond love tale
By ev'ry burn and tree.
'Tis hope that cheers the mind,
Though lovers absent be;
And when I think I see thee still,
I think I'm still wi' thee.

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