Broadside ballad entitled 'A New Medley'

Commentary

Verse 1: 'Of a' the airts the wind can blaw, / Out o'er Benlomond's hill; / She says she loe's me best of a', / The lass of Paities's Mill. / My love she's like the red red rose, / That's newly sprung in June; / Behind yon hills where Lugar flows, / And the banks o' bonnie Doon.'

As the title suggests, this is a song composed of lines and images from various famous Scots songs. Several of the source songs are by Robert Burns, including 'Of a' the airts', Ca' the yowes', 'My love is like a red red rose' and 'Ye banks and braes of bonnie Doon'. Other songs that the composer of this medley has borrowed from include 'The lass of Patie's mill' by Allan Ramsay and 'Sweet Jessie of Dunblane' by Robert Tannahill. The tune to which this medley was to be sung is not noted.

Early ballads were dramatic or humorous narrative songs derived from folk culture that predated printing. Originally perpetuated by word of mouth, many ballads survive because they were recorded on broadsides. Musical notation was rarely printed, as tunes were usually established favourites. The term 'ballad' eventually applied more broadly to any kind of topical or popular verse.

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