Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Rovin' Robin

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

ROVIN' ROBIN (R8x32) 2C (4C set) Alex Gray 1972 SCD Archives

1- 8 1M dances a Fig of 8 round 1L and 2L passing 2L by RSh to start, 2L turns right about bars 1-4 and 1L turns left about bars 5-8
9-16 1M+2L lead down the middle and back to top (1L dances down 1 place)
17-24 1M+2L also 2M+1L dance Allemande
25-32 1M+2L turn RH, 1M+1L turn LH to 2nd places (2L steps up)

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

Rovin' Robin - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

The title of this dance, Rovin' Robin, comes from the Rantin' Rovin' Robin - Song written by Robert Burns appearing in his Second Commonplace Book in 1787 when he was 28.

Chorus
Robin was a rovin' Boy,
Rantin' rovin', rantin' rovin';
Robin was a rovin' Boy,
Rantin' rovin' Robin.

The song "Rantin' Rovin' Robin" was initially published in 1808 and was originally composed and performed to the melody of "Dainty Davie." However, it is more commonly sung to the tune "O Gin Ye Were Dead Gudeman."

The composition is an upbeat and autobiographical work, providing a prediction of the author's forthcoming fame. It is believed to mirror a prophetic statement made by a traveling woman around the time of Burns' birth.

Rantin' Rovin' Robin Song - Information Video

Rantin' Rovin' Robin
Rantin' Rovin' Robin - From Page 58 Of 'Scenes Of Scottish Story'


Image from British Library, used under CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.
Additional search terms: Ranting Roving Robin.

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