As this was a favourite theme with our later Scottish muses, there are
several airs and songs of that name. That which I take to be the
oldest, is to be found in the "Musical Museum," beginning, "I hae been
at Crookieden." One reason for my thinking so is, that Oswald has it
in his collection, by the name of "The Auld Highland Laddie." It is
also known by the name of "Jinglan Johnie," which is a well-known song
of four or five stanzas, and seems to be an earlier song than Jacobite
times. As a proof of this, it is little known to the peasantry by the
name of "Highland Laddie;" while everybody knows "Jinglan Johnie." The
song begins
"Jinglan John, the meickle man,
He met wi' a lass was blythe and bonie."
Another "Highland Laddie" is also in the "Museum," vol. v., which I
take to be Ramsay's original, as he has borrowed the chorus--"O my
bonie Highland lad," &c. It consists of three stanzas, besides the
chorus; and has humour in its composition--it is an excellent, but
somewhat licentious song.--It begins
"As I cam o'er Cairney mount,
And down among the blooming heather."
This air, and the common "Highland Laddie," seem only to be different
sets.
Another "Highland Laddie," also in the "Museum," vol.
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