Review: Johnnie Cope

Subject: Review: Johnnie Cope
From: GUEST,Ron Verhoef
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 03:48 PM

It's seems there are people who believe that all traditional scottish songs must be written by Robert Burns. So the song Johnnie Cope in the database is also attributed to him. But it's not a Burns song at all, as a matter of fact it was written before Burns was born in 1759. The song was from 1745, so could never have been written by Burns.

Instead Adam Skirving (b. 1719 - d. 1803) is the actual writer. Skirving was a witness to the Battle of Prestonpans (1745), the very battle this song is about! So apart from a poem, you might even say it's a piece of journalism!

Subject: RE: Review: Johnnie Cope
From: GUEST,Allen
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 04:34 PM

Umm, there is also a version Burnes reworked later.

Subject: RE: Review: Johnnie Cope
From: chico
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 07:49 PM

Hahahah. . . Burns rewrote a LOT of traditional songs. I like the original Skirving one better though

Subject: RE: Review: Johnnie Cope
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 05:22 AM

Chico, Burns collected folk songs, folk songs are always altered it's
called the folk process.

eric