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Songs of Robert Burns/How cruel are the parents

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Songs of Robert Burns ~ How cruel are the parentsing
James C. Dick
No. 129. From "The Songs by Robert Burns". A Study in Tone-Poetry. Published by Henry Frowde. London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and New York 1903. Source: «traditionalmusic»


Page 117. II. LOVE GENERAL


No. 129. How cruel are the parents.

Tune : John Anderson my jo (see No. 212).
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Songs-Robert-Burns-212.png


* * *


How cruel are the parents
    Who riches only prize,
And to the wealthy booby
    Poor woman sacrifice !
Meanwhile the hapless daughter
    Has but a choice of strife ;
To shun a tyrant father's hate
    Become a wretched wife!

The ravening hawk pursuing,
    The trembling dove thus flies,
To shun impelling ruin
    Awhile her pinion tries,
Till, of escape despairing,
    No shelter or retreat,
She trusts the ruthless falconer,
    And drops beneath his feet!


Source: «traditionalmusic.co.uk»

Page 395. II. LOVE-SONGS : GENERAL

No. 129. How cruel are the parents. Thomson's Scotish Airs, 1799, 31. ' Written for this work by Robert Burns.' Thomson wanted English verses for John Anderson my jo, and he got them on May 9, 1795> such as they are. At the head of the MS. is written, ' Song altered from an old English one,' which is said to be in The Hive, 1733, but it is not in the earlier edition, 1725-7. The verses are in Muse's Delight, 1754, 293, and Burns has adhered to the sentiment of them. In Bickham's Musical Entertainer, 1737, ii. 68, the daughters take the business into their own hands, as follows:—

  • When parents obstinate and cruel prove,

And force us to a man we cannot love; 'Tis fit we disappoint the sordid elves And wisely get us husbands for ourselves.'

This they sing to the music of Henry Carey. For the air of Burns's verses, see No. 212.

Source: «traditionalmusic.co.uk»

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