Dance Ruffian's Rant 5766

It would seem that four songs were written to the tune “The Ruffian’s Rant”. Three were by Robert Burns and the fourth by Mrs Grant of Carron. In reference to “Theniel Menzies’ Bonny Mary” which appeared in James Johnson’s The Scots Musical Museum, Volume 2, William Stenhouse says: “This humorous song, as well as that which follows it in the Museum, beginning ‘A’ the lads of Thornie Bank,’ were composed by Burns toward the end of the year 1787. They are adapted to the old tune, called The Ruffian’s Rant, which is likewise the melody of ‘Roy’s Wife of Aldivalloch’.” Stenhouse adds that Burns also composed “Canst Thou Leave Me” to “The Ruffian’s Rant” in 1794. There was also an anonymous verse reply to “Canst Thou Leave Me” found among Burns’ papers after his death, verses in what would appear to be “the handwriting of a female”. However, this poem cannot be added to the sum total of songs because it is not know if it was set to the same tune or to any tune, for that matter.

The first two songs which Burns wrote to this tune are worth reproducing here. “Canst Thou Leave Me” is in English and is not up to the standard of the other two. The anonymous verses are best left alone.

Chorus:
Theniel Menzies’ bonie Mary,
Theniel Menzies’ bonie Mary,
Charlie Grigor tint his plaidie,
Kissin Theniel’s bonie Mary!

In comin by the brig o’ Dye,
At Darlet we a blink did tarry;
As day was dawin in the sky,
We drank a health to bonie Mary.

Her een sae bright, her brow sae white,
Her haffet locks as brown’s a berry,
And ay they dimpl’t wi’ a smile,
The rosy cheeks o’ bonie Mary.

We lap an’ danc’d the lee-lang day,
Till piper-lads were wae and weary;
But Charlie gat the spring to pay,
For kissin Theniel’s bonie Mary.

The second song Burns wrote to “The Ruffian’s Rant” is also know as “Lady Onlie, Honest Lucky”.

Chorus:
Lady Onlie, honest lucky,
Brews good ale at shore o’ Bucky:
I wish her sale for her guid ale,
The best on a’ the shore o’ Bucky!

A’ the lads o’ Thorniebank,
When they gae to the shore o’ Bucky,
They’ll step in an’ tak a pint
Wi’ Lady Onlie, honest lucky.

Her house sae bien, her curch sae clean,
I want she is a dainty chuckie,
And cheery blinks the ingle-gleede
O’ Lady Onlie, honest lucky!

Mrs Grant of Carron who wrote “Roy’s Wife of Aldivalloch”, which also appears in The Scots Musical Museum, was born at Aberlour on Speyside in Banff about 1745. Born a Grant, she married her cousin Mr Grant in 1763 and, later, a Dr Murray who was a physician in Bath, where she died in 1814. Mrs Grant’s only published song was based on an earlier ballad. In The Songs of Scotland Prior to Burns Robert Chambers says: “A portrait of her, representing her as a handsome middle-aged lady in a beautiful dress of the last century, was brought forward in the remarkable museum of local antiquities and other objects of interest which graced the meeting of the British Association at Aberdeen in 1859.”

Chorus:
Roy’s wife of Aldivalloch,
Roy’s wife of Aldivalloch,
Wat ye how she cheated me,
As I cam o’er the braes o’ Balloch.

She vow’d, she swore, she wad be mine,
  She said she lo’ed me best of ony;
But oh! the fickle, faithless quean,
  She’s tae’n the carle, and left her Johnie.

O, she was a canty quean,
  Weel could she dance the Highland walloch;
How happy I had she been mine,
  Or I been Roy of Aldivalloch!

Her face sae fair, her e’en sae clear,
  Her wee bit mou’ sae sweet and bonny;
To me she ever will be dear,
  Tho’ she’s forever left her Johnie.

According to Chambers there was a real Roy of Aldivalloch. “On the 21st February 1727, John Roy, lawful son to Thomas Roy in Aldivalloch, was married to Isabel daughter of Alister Stewart, sometime resident in Cabrach (Highlands of Aberdeenshire). It is to be feared that the marriage was nor a fitting or a happy one, for Mr Peter Buchan has preserved a homely ballad, from which it can be gathered that Roy was an old man, and that ‘Tibbie’ on one occasion was induced to leave her husband’s house with a certain ‘Davie Gordon in Kirktown,’ but was pursued by Roy, and brought back, after an escape over the braes of Balloch.

Silly body, Aldivalloch,
Puir body, Aldivalloch;
He lost his hose and baith his shoon,
Coming through the braes of Balloch.”

Mr Chambers notes that “The entire ballad is presented in Mackay’s Book of Scottish Songs, p. 65. The Banffshire Journal, in recording the death of Margaret Roy, states that an old lady who died in the Cabrach some years ago recollected the Roy of the ballad, which she said was the composition of a shoemaker residing in the neighbourhood of Aldivalloch.”