The Book of Scottish Song/Tweedside 1
Tweedside.
[The beautiful tune of "Tweedside" is of great antiquity, and has even been attributed to David Rizzio, but without any authentic foundation. Gay adopts it as the air of one of his songs in the opera of "Polly," printed in 1729. The old verses to the tune, which are here given, are said to have been written by Lord Yester, afterwards marquis of Tweeddale, who died in 1713, in his 68th year. Lord Yester, according to Mr. Robert Chambers, "was a distinguished statesman in the reigns of William and Anne, and married the only daughter of the duke of Lauderdale, considered the greatest heiress in the kingdom. He was one of the principal instruments in carrying through the Union, being at the head of the party called the Squadrone Volante. Macky, in his curious work of that period, describes him as a great encourager and promoter of trade and the welfare of his country. 'He hath good sense,' he adds, 'is very modest, much a man of honour, and hot when piqued; is highly esteemed in his country, and may make a considerable figure in it now. He is a short brown man, towards sixty years old.' The song must have been written before 1697, when he ceased to be Lord Yester, by succeeding his father. Neidpath Castle, near Peebles, which overhangs the Tweed, must be the locality of the song—that being then the property, and one of the residences, of the Tweeddale family. The song first appeared in Mr. Herd's Collection, 1776."]
When Maggy and I were acquaint,
I carried my noddle fu' hie,
Nae lintwhite in a' the gay plain,
Nae gowdspink sae bonnie as she!
I whistled, I piped, and I sang;
I woo'd, but I cam' nae great speed;
Therefore I maun wander abroad,
And lay my banes far frae the Tweed.
To Maggy my love I did tell;
My tears did my passion express:
Alas! for I lo'ed her ower weel,
And the women lo'e sic a man less.
Her heart it was frozen and cauld;
Her pride had my ruin decreed;
Therefore I maun wander abroad,
And lay my banes far frae the Tweed.