Broadside ballad entitled 'Jamie Cockup's Lament For his Brother, Peter'

Commentary

This ballad begins: 'O waesucks, for Peter the "Loyal!" / What's this o't come owre him at last ; / Did ever man bide sic' a trial- / Did ever man stand sae aghast'. It was to be sung to the air, 'The Indulgent Landlord's March', and was dedicated to the Glasgow Political Union. The sheet was entitled 'Glasgow Melodies - No. 1.' and was printed by W. & W. Miller of the Trongate, Glasgow.

Although no publication date has been attached to this sheet, it is known that W. and W. Miller were working out of the Trongate in the 1830s. It is very likely, therefore, that this sheet was published around that time. They are also known to have had premises at 90 Bell Street between 1837 and 1840. Whilst the subject matter of this ballad might be a little unfamiliar to a modern-day audience, the broadside readership of the day would have been au fait with the politics of this piece.

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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