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Katie Beardie had a coo,
Black and white about the mou';
Wasna that a dentie coo?
Dance, Katie Beardie!
Katie Beardie had a hen,
Cackled but an' cackled ben
Wasna that a dentie hen?
Dance, Katie Beardie!
Katie Beardie had a cock
That could spin a gude tow rock;
Wasna that a dentie cock?
Dance, Katie Beardie!
Katie Beardie had a grice,
It could skate upon the ice
Wasna that a dentie grice?
Dance, Katie Beardie!
Katie Beardie had a wean,
That was a' her lovin ain;
Wasna that a dentie wean?
Dance, Katie Beardie!
Yet, there is tolerable
proof extant that the above dates from at least the beginning of the
seventeenth century. "Katherine Beardie," anyway, is the name affixed to
an air in a manuscript musical collection which belonged to the Scottish
poet, Sir William Mure, of Rowallan, written, presumably, between the
years 1612 and 1628. The same tune, under the name of "Kette Bairdie,"
also appears in a similar collection which belonged to Sir John Skene of
Hallvards, supposed to have been written about 1629. Further, so well
did Sir Walter Scott know that this was a popular dance during the reign
of King James VI., as Mr. Dawnev points out, that he introduces it in
the Fortunes of Nigel, with this difference, that it is there called ''Chrichty
Bairdie." a name not precisely identical with that here given; but as
Kit is a diminutive of Christopher, it is not difficult to perceive how
the two came to be confounded. Old as it certainly is---and older by a
deal it may he than these presents indicate —it maintains yet the charm
of youth—delighting all with its lightly tripping numbers. No less
does-- |
