Dance Within a Mile of Edinburgh Toon 7210

'Twas within a mile of Edinburgh town,
  In the rosy time of the year,
Sweet flowers bloom’d, and the grass was down,
  And each shepherd woo’d his dear.
    Bonny Jockey, blithe and gay,
    Kiss’d sweet Jenny making hay.
The lassie blush’d, and frowning cry’d No, no, it will not do,
I cannot, cannot, wonnot, wonnot, mannot buckle to.

Jockey was a wag that never would wed,
  Tho’ long he had follow’d the lass,
Contented she earn’d and ate her brown bred,
  And merrily turn’d up the grass.
    Bonny Jockey, blithe and free,
    Won her heart right merrily;
Yet still she blush’d, and frowning cry’d No, no, it will not do,
I cannot, cannot, wonnot, wonnot, mannot buckle to.

But when he vow’d he wou’d make her his bride,
  Tho’ his flocks and herds were not few,
She gave him her hand, and a kiss beside,
  And vow’d she’d for ever be true.
    Bonny Jockey, blithe and free,
    Won her heart right merrily;
At church she no more frowning cry’d No, no it will not do,
I cannot, cannot, wonnot, wonnot, mannot buckle to.

This is not a Scottish song. According to Robert Chambers it is “a noted example of those composed by English wits in imitation of the Scots manner, and which were, with little discriminiation, accepted as Scots songs in Scotland itself.” It was written by Thomas D’Urfey and first appeared in Wit and Mirth; or Pills to purge melancholy published in London in 1698.

Of the song which was included in James Johnson’s The Scots Musical Museum, Volume 1, of 1787, William Stenhouse said: “The words in the Museum, beginning, ‘'Twas within a mile of Edinborough town,’ are only a modern, though improved, version of the old verses, adapted to a new air, composed by Mr James Hook of London, well known for several successful imitations of the Scottish style.” The English song was entitled “'Twas within a furlong of Edinborough town”.

The regimental march of the band of the late Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was “Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town”. (See also “Greig’s Pipes”)