Dainty Davie
Scottish Poem By Robert Burns
Dainty Davie (also known as Now Rosy May) is a folk song, possibly of Scottish origin, which is still part of the repertoire of Scottish traditional music. It has a long history and two different tunes, both of which have been used for several texts, the best known of which was written by Robert Burns in 1793One version of the tune dates from at least the middle of the 17th century. It has been known as Dainty Davy or Dainty Davie since at least 1657, when it was first published in John Playford's collection The Dancing Master.
This poem was based on a story published in a 1692 anti-Presbyterian propaganda pamphlet, The Scots Presbyterian Eloquence Displayed, and focusing on a preacher, David Williamson, seven times married minister of St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh (died August 1706).
Related Scottish Country Dances
Dainty DavieDainty Davie By Robert Burns
To deck her gay, green-spreading bowers;
And now comes in the happy hours,
To wander wi' my Davie.
Chorus
Meet me on the warlock knowe,
Dainty Davie, Dainty Davie;
There I'll spend the day wi' you,
My ain dear Dainty Davie.
The crystal waters round us fa',
The merry birds are lovers a',
The scented breezes round us blaw,
A wandering wi' my Davie.
Chorus
As purple morning starts the hare,
To steal upon her early fare,
Then thro' the dews I will repair,
To meet my faithfu' Davie.
Chorus
When day, expiring in the west,
The curtain draws o' Nature's rest,
I flee to his arms I loe' the best,
And that's my ain dear Davie.
Chorus
Dainty Davie Song Video
Dainty Davie Song - Information Video
The Grave Of Dainty Davie (David Williamson), St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, Scotland
The Online Scots Dictionary Translate Scots To English.
Published in https://www.robertburns.org/works/dainty-davie/
Published in http://www.robertburnsfederation.com/poems/translations/now_rosy_may.htm (with translation).
Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Dainty Davie article on Wikisource.
Image copyright Stephencdickson (Own work) Creative Commons Licence 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.