Annotation:Gardener's March (The)

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GARDENERS' MARCH, THE. AKA – "Gardener wi’ his Paidle." Scottish, March and Air (4/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. A trade tune printed by Glasgow publisher James Aird in the 1780's. It appears to have some distant relationship with "Dainty Davie." Robert Burns used the melody of "Gardeners' March" for his song "Gardener wi' his Paidle" (paidle = hoe), which seems to have been based on an older song, although Burns only retained the title. The reworking is so extensive that it is considered a Burns original.

When rosy May comes in wi' flowers,
To deck her gay, green-spreading bowers,
Then busy, busy are his hours,
The Gard'ner wi' his paidle.

The crystal waters gently fa',
The merry bards are lovers a',
The scented breezes round him blaw—
The Gard'ner wi' his paidle.

When purple morning starts the hare
To steal upon her early fare;
Then thro' the dews he maun repair—
The Gard'ner wi' his paidle.

When day, expiring in the west,
The curtain draws o' Nature's rest,
He flies to her arms he lo'es the best,
The Gard'ner wi' his paidle.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 1), 1782; p. 61. Manson (Hamilton's Universal Tune-Book, vol. 2), 1846; p. 8. Johnson (Scots Musical Museum, vol. 3), 1790; Song 220, p. 229.

Recorded sources:

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