Annotation:Wilt Thou be My Dearie
X:1 T:Wilt thou be my Dearie M:C L:1/8 B:James Aird – Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 5 B:(Glasgow, 1797, No. 151, p. 53) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:G D|G<DE<D G2D2|G>A{GA}BG BAA>B|G>DE>D G2D2| G>ABB BB B2|A>GAB e3g|d>e{e}dc/B/ eAA>B| G>DE>D G2D2|e>ded/B/ d>BA>B|G>DE>D G2D||
WILT THOU BE MY DEARIE. AKA and see "Duchess of Buccleugh (3)," "Shoemaker's Daughter (1) (The)." Scottish, Air (2/4 or whole time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). The song by poet Robert Burns was printed in James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum, vol. 5 (1797, Song 470, p. 484), set to a version of the older air "Suttor's Dochter (The)" ("Suttor's Daughter (The)", AKA "Cobbler's Daughter (The)," "Shoemaker's Daughter (1) (The)" and "Duchess of Buccleugh (3)"). It was first printed in 1761 in Edinburgh by Neil Stewart under the title "Shoemaker's Daughter (The). Burns wrote to his friend Alexander Cunningham in March, 1794, remarking: "...do you know the much admired old Highland air called, 'The Sutor's dochter'? It is a first-rate favorite of mine, & I have written what I reckon one of my best songs to it." His song begins:
Wilt thou be my Dearie;
When sorrow wrings thy gentle heart,
O wilt thou let me cheer thee:
By the treasure of my soul,
That's the love I bear thee!
I swear and vow,
That only thou shall ever be my dearie.
Only thou I swear and vow,
Shall ever be my Dearie.
