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Broadside entitled 'I Love the Bonnie Lassies' |
CommentaryVerse 1: 'Some poets always sing in praise of bright and sparkling wine, / And say there's pleasure in the foaming glass; / Well, they may take the wine, for there's something more devine / In the smiling of a bonnie, bonnie lass.' This song was published by the Poet's Box, of the Overgate, Dundee. This is a song in praise of women, young and old. Although the singer 'loves the bonnie lassies' he also recognises that the 'poor old grannie' used to be one. The last verse illustrates the seniments well: 'Then here's to every mother, and every sister dear, / And while the sands of time run in the glass, / Let the toast of our lives be our sweethearts and our wives, / And success to every bonnie, bonnie lass.' It is not clear what the connection between the different Poet?s Boxes were. They almost certainly sold each other?s sheets. It is known that John Sanderson in Edinburgh often wrote to the Leitches in Glasgow for songs and that later his brother Charles obtained copies of songs from the Dundee Poet?s Box. There was also a Poet?s Box in Belfast from 1846 to 1856 at the address of the printer James Moore, and one at Paisley in the early 1850s, owned by William Anderson. 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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Probable period of publication:
1880-1900 shelfmark: L.C.Fol.70(25b)
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