Strathallan’s Lament: A Jockanory Burns Night Special
From 17:45pm GMT on the 25th of January 2025 a Jockanory Burns night special will be available to watch on YouTube. I perform a reading of Robert Burns’ poem Strathallan’s Lament, and a melodica rendition of the accompanying tune by Edinburgh school-master Allan Masterton (featuring at least one wrong note!)
The original sheet music published in James Johnston’s Scots Musical Museum (to which Burns was a major contributor) does not specify a tempo but calls for a “plaintive” performance – what more plaintive an instrument than the melodica?!
1745 was the year of the Jacobite uprising which led to the bloody defeat at Culloden and put an end to any thought of Scotland regaining its independence by placing a Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) on the throne.
The words of the poem were said to have been uttered by James, Viscount Strathallan, who father William was killed at Culloden, although it seems more likely that Burns wrote most of them.
Strathallan’s Lament by Robert Burns
“Thickest night, surround my dwelling!
Howling tempests, o’er me rave!
Turbid torrent, wintry swelling,
Roaring by my lonely cave!
Crystal streamlets gently flowing,
Busy haunts of base mankind,
Western breezes softly blowing,
Suit not my distracted mind.
In the cause of Right engaged,Wrongs injurious to redress,
Honour’s war we strongly waged,
But the heavens denied success.
Ruin’s wheel has driven o’er us:
Not a hope that dare attend,
The wide world is all before us,
But a world without a friend.”