'The Silver Tassie' by Robert Burns (Tenor Guitar Song)

The Silver Tassie, was originally published by Robert Burns with the title 'My Bony Mary' after Mary Campbell or Highland Mary. It first featured in volume 3 of the Scots Musical Museum (1790). In a note to the editor James Johnson, he stated "This air is Oswald’s, the first half stanza of the song is old, the rest is mine".

The original verse is thought to have been from a 17th century ballad by Alexander Lesley, Esq. of Edin on Diveronside, in honour of a Helen Christie. Also as is the case with many Burns songs, the tune has been adapted and changed over the years, now more commonly sung to a much simpler melody than that of James Oswald's "The Stolen Kiss".

✨ Interesting Notes:
A silver tassie is an old ceremonial goblet / cup.

"wind blaws frae the Ferry" is not referring to a boat in this instance, but rather Queensferry, near Edinburgh. The site of the three iconic bridges crossing the Firth of Forth these days.

"The ship rides by the Berwick-law" probably means the ship is riding at anchor in open sea as opposed to sailing by, with the Berwick-law an abbreviated North Berwick Law - a conical hill that stands alone in an otherwise flat landscape dominating the harbour.

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❓What is a tenor guitar?
A tenor guitar is a 4-string guitar that is typically tuned in fifths, similar to a tenor banjo or mandola. Originally designed in the 1920s for tenor banjo players transitioning to guitar, it offers a unique sound that bridges the gap between traditional six-string acoustic guitar and smaller stringed instruments like the mandolin.

❓How is a tenor guitar tuned?
In this video I'm tuned AEAE, sometimes referred to as cross-tuning or sawmill tuning in the violin world.

✍️ The Silver Tassie Lyrics:
Go fetch to me a pint o’ wine,
And fill it in a silver tassie;
That I may drink, before I go,
A service to my bonie lassie:
The boat rocks at the Pier o’ Lieth,
Fu’ loud the wind blaws frae the Ferry,
The ship rides by the Berwick-law,
And I maun leave my bony Mary.

The trumpets sound, the banners fly,
The glittering spears are ranked ready,
The shouts o war are heard afar,
The battle closes deep & bloody:
It’s not the roar o’ sea or shore,
Wad make me langer wish to tarry;
Nor shouts o’ war that’s heard afar—
It’s leaving thee, my bony Mary!

#robertburns #scottishmusic #tenorguitar

[lizzy-folksongsscottis]

Beautifully sung & played Scott- Love yer Intonation!

[donfredu]

The strumming is lovely, giving "thickness" to melody. Well done.

[jacqueking]

Thank you, Scott. Also, thank you for the lyrics and clarifications.

[andrewcharman-williams]

Very nicely done. The sawmill tuning works really well for the song - I might have to have a proper play around with AEAE or GDGD.