Within A Mile O' Edinburgh Toon
Scottish Song By Thomas D'Urfey
Within A Mile O' Edinburgh Toon (also known as 'Twas Within A Furlong Of Edinborough Town) is a song supposed to have been written by Thomas D'Urfey towards the close of the 17th century.As Robert Chambers says in his book, "The Songs Of Scotland Prior To Burns", (Robert Chambers, 1890) this song "is a noted example of those composed by English wits in imitation of the Scots Manner, and which were, with little discrimination, accepted as Scots songs in Scotland itself. It is wholly of English origin; the verses by Thomas D'Urfey, and the air by Mr James Hook."
Thomas D'Urfey (a.k.a. Tom Durfey; 1653 -1723) was an English writer and wit. He composed plays, songs, and poetry, in addition to writing jokes. He was an important innovator and contributor in the evolution of the Ballad opera.
This is an improved version of an old song supposed to have been written by Tom D'Urfey, towards the close of the 17th century, and entitled "'Twas within a furlong of Edinborough town."
The old air is to be found in Oswald's collection: the air now in use is the composition of Mr. James Hook, father of the late Theodore Hook.
The words below are from the first volume of Johnson's Museum, 1787.
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Within A Mile O' Edinburgh ToonWithin A Mile O' Edinburgh Toon By Thomas D'Urfey
In the rosy time of the year;
Sweet flowers bloom'd, and the grass was down,
And each shepherd woo'd his dear.
Bonnie Jocky, blythe and gay,
Kiss'd sweet Jenny, making hay,
The lassie blush'd, and frowning, cried, "No, no, it will not do;
I cannot, cannot, wonnot, wonnot, mannot buckle too."
Jocky was a wag that never would wed,
Though long he had followed the lass:
Contented she earned and eat her brown bread,
And merrily turn'd up the grass.
Bonnie Jocky, blythe and free,
Won her heart right merrily:
Yet still she blush'd, and frowning, cried, "No, no, it will not do;
I cannot, cannot, wonnot, wonnot, mannot buckle too."
But when he vow'd he would make her his bride,
Though 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.
Bonnie Jocky, blythe and free,
Won her heart right merrily:
At church she no more frowning cried, "No, no, it will not do;
I cannot, cannot, wonnot, wonnot, mannot buckle too."
Within A Mile O' Edinburgh Toon Song Video
Within A Mile O' Edinburgh Toon Song - Information Video
Within A Mile O' Edinburgh Toon, From Glen Collection Of Printed Music, Minstrelsy Of Scotland, Printed Music
The Online Scots Dictionary Translate Scots To English.
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Text from this original Within A Mile O' Edinburgh article on Wikisource.
Text from this original Thomas D'Urfey article on Wikipedia.
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