Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

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	504                                   ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
	Another song entitled " The Cumberland Lass," commencing— " In Cumberland there dwells a maid, Her charms are past compare," will be found in " A Complete Collection of Old and New English and Scotch Songs," i. 179, 8vo*, 1735. It is in the wrong metre for this tune.
	COME, OPEN THE DOOK, SWEET BETTY. In the Pepys Collection, iii. 62, and in the Roxburghe, ii. 238, are copies of the ballad, entitled " John's earnest request; or, Betty's compassionate love ex­tended to him in a time of distress. To a pleasant new tune much in request." Printed for P. Brooksby, at the Golden Ball in Pye Corner. It consists of nine stanzas, the first of which is here printed to the tune. This air will be found in the ballad operas of Flora, 1729, The Cobblers' Opera, 1729, and A chilles, 1733. The following words, adapted to it in Flora, became popular, and were reprinted in The Syren (12mo., 1735), and other song-books. In The Livery Rake, the air is named from them. " O fly from this place, dear Flora,              Dearest creature, exchange for the better, Thy gaoler has set thee free,                     Confinement can have no charms, And before the next blush of Aurora Think which of your prisons is sweeter, You'll find a kind guardian in me.             This, or a young lover's arms." In Burns' remarks on the songs in Johnson's Scot's Musical Museum, he speaks of " old words" to " Blink o'er the burn, sweet Betty," and says, " All that I remember are—
	Blink over the burn, sweet Betty, It is a cauld winter night; It rains, it hails, it thunders, The moon she gives nae light. It's a' for the sake o' sweet Betty, That ever I tint my way; Sweet, let me lie beyond thee, Until it be break o' day.	0 Betty will bake my bread, And Betty will brew my ale, And Betty will be my love When I come over the dale. Blink over the burn, sweet Betty, Blink over the burn to me, And while I hae life, dear lassie, My ain sweet Betty thou't be."