Annotation:Lady MacIntosh's Reel (1)
X:1 T:Lady MacIntosh's Reel [1] M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel S:Bremner - Scots Reels (c. 1757) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:D f | d/d/d dA B>def | d/d/d gd (B2 B)e | d/d/d dA B>de(g | f)edB (A2 A) :| |: f | a>baf gfe(g | f)dgd (B2 B)f | a>baf gea(g | f)edB (A2 A) :|]
LADY MACINTOSH('S REEL) [1]. AKA and see "(A man's a man) For Aw That and Aw That," "Strawberry Blossom (2)," "There's Nae Luck Aboot the Hoose (1) (There's Nae Luck Ava) [1]." Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB: AABB (Bremner). The tune is from Robert Bremner and first appears in print in his 1757 collection (pg. 52). Words to the tune appear in A Collection of Loyal Songs, Poems, 1750. Bruce Olson finds these lyrics in NLS MS 2910 (c 1730? -40's?):
A New Song. Tune: Lady Mackintosh's Reel
That Georgie reigns in Jamie's stead
I'm grieved yet scorn to shaw that
I'll neer look down, nor hang my head
On Rebel whigs for a that
For a' that and a that
And twice as mickle's a that
He's bonny oer the hill the night
That will be king for a that
From the above lines it appears that the Lady Macintosh of the title was Lady Anne Macintosh, also known as Anne Farquharson and Colonel Anne, married to the Laird of Macintosh. It must have been a contentious union, for the laird supported the Hannovarians during the Jacobite rising in Scotland in 1745-6, while Anne held for Bonnie Prince Charlie. She even raised several hundred men to his service, although she did not personally lead them. At various times she and her husband were both captured by their respective foes, each time being released into each others' custody.
The melody was famously used by Robert Burns as the vehicle for his song "a man's a man for a' that" by which the tune is now often known.