Dance The Bonniest Lass in all the World 682

The original words to, as well as the identity of, “The Bonniest Lass in All The World” are unknown but in the appendix to Lays from Strathearn there appears the following song.

The bonniest lass in a’ the warld,
  I’ve aften heard them telling;
She’s up the hill, she’s down the glen,
  She’s in yon lonely dwelling.
But nane could bring her to my mind,
  Wha lives but in the fancy;
Is’t Kate, or Susy, Jean, or May,
  Is’t Effie, Bess or Nancy?

Now lasses a’ keep a guid heart,
  Nor e’er envy a comrade;
For be your een black, blue or grey,
  Ye’re bonniest aye to some lad.
The tender heart, the cheering smile,
  The truth that ne’er will falter,
Are charms that never can beguile,
  And time can never alter.

In 1724 a song was published in Allan Ramsay’s The Tea Table Miscellany and dedicated to Miss Anne Hamilton of the family of Hamilton of Bangour. The new words, put to the old tune, were by William Robert Crawford of Auchinames (c. 1695–1733). Both William Hamilton of Bangour and Robert Crawford, both landed gentry, assisted Ramsay with The Tea Table Miscellany.

In 1725, the song was included in William Thomson’s Orpheus Caledonius as “The Bonniest Lass in a’ the World”.

Look where my dear Hamillia smiles,
  Hamillia! heavenly Charmer;
See how with all their Arts and Wiles,
  The Loves and Graces arm her.
A blush dwells glowing on her Cheeks,
  Fair Seats of youthful Pleasures;
There Love in smiling language speaks,
  There spreads his rosy Treasure.

O fairest Maid, I own thy Power,
  I gaze, I sigh, I languish,
Yet ever, ever will adore,
  And triumph in my Anguish.
But ease, O Charmer, ease my Care,
  And let my Torments move thee;
As thou art fairest of the Fair,
  So I the dearest love thee.

Reprinted in The Scots Musical Museum of James Johnson in 1788, the song was called “Hamilla”.

Crawford was also the author of “Tweedside” and “The Bush Aboon Traquair”.