Annotation:O Gin I were a Baron's Heir

Back to O Gin I were a Baron's Heir

O GIN I WERE A BARON'S HEIR. AKA - "Gin I were a Baron's Heir," "Lassie would ye lo'e me." English, Scottish; Air and Guaracha Waltz. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. A song by Englishman Joseph William Holder (1785-1823), set to a traditional melody.

Oh, gin I were a baron's heir,
And could I braid wi' gems your hair,
And make ye braw as ye are fair,
Lassie, would ye lo'e me?
And could I tak' ye to the town,
And show ye braw sights many a ane,
And busk ye fine in silken gown,
Lassie, would ye lo'e me?

Groves Dictionary (1900) has this to say of Holder:

HOLDER, Joseph William, Mus. Bac., born in St. John's, Clerkenwell, in 1764, and educated in the Chapel Royal under Dr. Nares. After quitting the choir he became assistant to Reinhold, organist of St. George the Martyr, Queen Square. He next obtained the post of organist of St. Mary's Church, Bungay, which he held for many years, after which he removed to the vicinity of Chelmsford. He took his degree of Bachelor of Music at Oxford in Dec. 1792, his exercise being an anthem, the score of which is preserved in the Bodleian Library. Holder's compositions consist of a mass, anthems, glees (three collections published), canons, songs and pianoforte pieces, including arrangements of many of Handel's choruses. Holder claimed descent by the father's side from Cardinal Wolsey. He died in 1832.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 1), c. 1880's; No. 6, p. 25.

Recorded sources: Beltona BL 2450 (78 RPM), Jimmy Shand (1942. Part of "The Ploughman's Love" medley). Celtic Music CM018, Lochan - "Lochan" (1983). Rel Records, The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra - "The Fiddler's Party."