Annotation:He's Dear to me tho' he's far frae me

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 HE'S DEAR TO ME THO' HE'S FAR FRAE ME. Scottish, Slow Air (4/4 time). F Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. The song was published in John Johnson's Scots Musical Museum, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1803, p. 566). The lyric begins: As I was walking by yon river side my heart it was fair and O but I was weary I thought upon the days that are past and gane for he's dear dear to me tho' he's far far frae me. Stenhouse notes that the song was first published on a single-sheet in 1796, written "by a gentleman." John Glen (1900) shows no mercy in his remarks on the piece, suggesting that the anonymity is justified, as "no self-respecting writer would put his name to such a feeble effort." He further opines that the melody is "a poor mongrel tune, not older than the words."  Source for notated version:  Printed sources: Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 69. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 2, 1802; p. 10.  Recorded sources:

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