In Yon Garden- Charles Johnson (Selkirk) c.1743
[From: “Scots Musical Museum” Johnson, 1787, VI. p. 582. Reprinted a number of times.
Stenhouse says he was informed by Mr. John Anderson, engraver and understudy to engraver James Johnson, "that the words and music of this were taken down from the singing of Mr. Charles Johnson, father of Mr. James Johnson." Since the song was
"acquired by old Johnson in his infancy, and he was then informed that it was very ancient."
James Johnson, was born about 1755 in Ettrick, a small border village in the County of Selkirk, Scotland. Since Charles Johnson learned it as a child, his version is dated c.1743 which predates the c.1750 version of Unfortunate Swain.
R. Matteson 2017]
IN YON GARDEN as learned by Charles Johnson c.1743. Printed in the “Scots Musical Museum” in 1787, VI. p. 582.
IN yon garden fine and gay,
Picking lilies a' the day,
Gathering flowers o' ilka hue,
I wistna then what love could do.
Where love is planted, there it grows;
It buds and blooms like any rose;
It has a sweet and pleasant smell:
No flower on earth can it excel.
I put my hand into the bush,
And thought the sweetest rose to find,
But pricked my finger to the bone,
And left the sweetest rose behind.