Annotation:I'm Doun for the Lack o' Johnie

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I'M A' DOUN FOR LACK O' JOHNNIE. Scottish, Air (4/4 time). Scotland, northern Scotland. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. According to Jean Redpath ("The Scottish Fiddle: The Music and the Songs", Lismor, 1985), the tune was first published in 1862, in Graham's Songs of Scotland, vol. 2, with words and music arranged by Finlay Dun, who described it as "known and sung in the north of Scotland". However, it was earlier published by J.T. Surenne (1814-1878) in his Songs of Scotland Without Words (1852). The melody for this folk song from the north of Scotland was used by Max Bruch for his "Scottish Fantasia for Violin and Orchestra," opus 46 (1880).

I'm a' doun, doun
I'm doun for lack o' Johnnie
I'm a' doun, doun, doun
I'm doun for lack o' Johnnie

I sit upon an auld feal-sunk
I spin and greet for Johnnie
But gin he's gi'en me the begunk
Och hone! What will come o' me!

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Neil (The Scots Fiddle: Tunes, Tales & Traditions), 1991; No. 91, p. 123. Surenne (The Songs of Scotland without Words), 1852.

Recorded sources:

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