I haven't seen the Stenhouse edition, but the story seems reasonable enough; though of course it may be apocryphal. Bonny Mally Stewart appeared in chapbook(s) rather than broadsides as I said earlier.


IT WAS A' FOR OUR RIGHTFU' KING

(Words by Robert Burns; tune traditional)

It was a' for our rightfu' king
We left fair Scotland's strand;
It was a' for our rightfu' king,
We e'er saw Irish land my dear,
We e'er saw Irish land.

Now a' is done that men can do,
And a' is done in vain:
My love and Native Land fareweel,
For I maun cross the main, my dear,
For I maun cross the main.

He turn'd him right and round about,
Upon the Irish shore,
And gae his bridle-reins a shake,
With, adieu for evermore, my dear,
With adieu for evermore.

The soger frae the wars returns,
The sailor frae the main,
But I hae parted frae my Love,
Never to meet again, my dear,
Never to meet again.

When day is gane, and night is come,
And a' folk bound to sleep;
I think on him that's far awa,
The lee-lang night and weep, my dear,
The lee-lang night and weep.


From Johnson's Scots Musical Museum, vol.V no.497.


X:1
T:It Was a' for our Rightfu' King
C:Words by Robert Burns, tune trad.
B:Scots Musical Museum, vol.V no.497.
N:Roud 5789
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
M:4/4
K:D
AG|F2 (EF) D2 (AG)|F2 EF D3 A|
w:It_ was a'_ for our_ right-fu'_ king We
B2 (B3/2d/) B2 (AF)|A6 B2|
w:left fair_ Scot-land's_ strand; It
(A3/2B/) (d3/2e/) {de}f2 f2|(e3/2d/) (e3/2f/) A2 (d3/2e/)|
w:was_ a'_ for our right-*fu'_ king, We_
{de}f2 F2 (GF) (ED)|F3 A B2 (de)|
w:e'er saw I-*rish_ land my dear, We_
{de}f2 F2 (GF) (EF)|D6|]
w:e'er saw I-*rish_ land.