Annotation:Durisdeer

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DURISDEER. Scottish, Air (4/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. The song was composed by Lady John Scott, spouse of Lord John Scott, brother to the fifth Duke of Queensberry. According to Neil (1991), the Gaelic title probably derives from the words for door ('duris') and forest ('deer'), and although the meaning is still obscure, it apparently has to do with a door or opening of the forest. There is a village called Durisdeer located in the Lowther hills above Thornhill in Dumfriesshire. It is connected with the song's composer as the Dukes of Queensberry have their mausoleum in the parish church there, which also contains a monument to second Duke and his wife, who died in the early 18th century.

We'll meet nae mair at sunset
When the weary day in dune,
Nor wander hame the gither
By the licht o' the mune!
I'll hear your step nae longer
Amang the dewy corn,
For we'll meet nae mair my bonniest
Either at eve or morn.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 34, p. 43.

Recorded sources:

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