Lady Mary Ann- Robert Burns (Edin) 1787 Johnson
[From Robert Burns, 1787, dated 1792 in James Johnson’s Scots Musical Museum-- an additional first stanza is not usually given. First two published stanzas found in Herd's MS. Capitals ware used only at the beginning of each line.
In Burns published versions of the ballad, which he has taken from tradition and recreated, the original first stanza is missing. In the annotated version in James Johnson’s Scots Musical Museum, Burns writes, "the starting verse should be restored" and gives this verse:
Lady Mary Ann gaed out o’ her bower,
An’ she found a bonnie rose new i’ the flower;
As she kiss’d its ruddy lips drapping wi’ dew,
Quo’ she, ye’re nae sae sweet as my Charlie’s mou’.”
The addition of Lady Mary Ann and Charlie are certainly from Burns' pen and not from tradition. Stanzas 1,2 (Herd) and 5, (Craigston's Growing) of his published version (5 stanzas) are based on tradition whilst 3 and 4 appear to come from Burns' pen. Burns' poetry, although 3 stanzas are borrowed, does not reveal the ballad story.
R. Matteson 2016]
"Lady Mary Ann"
I. Lady Mary Ann looks o’er the castle wa’,
She saw three bonnie boys playing at the ha’,
The youngest he was the flower among them a’;
My bonnie laddie’s young, but he’s growin’ yet.
II. “O father, O father, an ye think it fit,
We’ll send him a year to the college yet;
We’ll sew a green ribbon round about his hat,
And that will let them ken he’s to marry yet.
III. Lady Mary Ann was a flower i' the dew, sweet was its smell,
And bonnie was its hue; and the langer it blossom'd
The sweeter it grew; for the lily in the bud
Will be bonnier yet.
IV. Young Charlie Cochrane was the sprout of an aik;
Bonnie and bloomin' and straught was its make:
The sun took delight to shine for its sake,
And it will be the brag o' the forest yet.
V. The simmer is gane when the leaves they were green,
And the days are awa that we nae seen;
But fur better days I trust will come again,
For my bonnie laddie's young, but he's growin' yet.