Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 21 Mar 19 - 07:03 AM

My memory is of Barbara Dixon singing this, long before any internet. Maybe Hexham Festival.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,Bearheart
Date: 20 Mar 19 - 04:28 PM

I was hoping for Ossian's version, which was slightly different, so I decided to listen again and make the changes myself; they did a lovely version with a beautiful tune to follow.

Posting in case anyone here is an Ossian fan.



I don't know how to format, so it will probably come out wonky.

My name is Jamie Raeburn, from Glasgow town I came
My place and habitation I'm forced to leave with shame
Frae my place and habitation, I noo must gang awa'
Far from the bonnie hills and dales of Caledonia

It was early in the morning, before the break of day
We were wakened by the turnkey who unto us did say
Arise you hapless convicts, arise you one and a'
This is the day you are to stray from Caledonia

We all arose, put on our clothes, our hearts were full of grief
Our friends that stood around the coach could grant us no relief
Our parents, wives and sweethearts, their hearts were broke in twa
To see us leave the hills and dales of Caledonia

Farewell, my aged father, you were the best of men
And likewise my own sweetheart, it's Catherine is her name
No more we'll walk by Clyde's clear stream or by the Broomielaw
For I must leave the hills and dales of Caledonia.

My name is Jamie Raeburn, from Glasgow town I came
My place and habitation I'm forced to leave with shame
Frae my place and habitation, I noo must gang awa'
Far from the bonnie hills and dales of Caledonia

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Feb 19 - 05:44 AM

Hi Mad Jock im the same commenting on the Parting Glass from Wellington NZ. Do we like the same music ? Trying to find out if Angie Wright is coming to Wellington.

A great cause for CAMH.

Have you heard our band's version. Its on youtube. Excuse the video I was experimenting. Im playing bass. The singer Alex Cormack has passed away. It has a great fiddle-violin overlay by Anita Steiner.

I hadnt heard it in 25 years when I decided to digitise our old band's practice music - that's why its a bit rough around the edges.

Cheers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpb9RZUAgw4

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,Mad Jock
Date: 21 Feb 19 - 10:04 AM

Angie Wright does a very good version of Jamie Raeburn but never recorded it.

However her latest CD Heroes and Demons which features all her own material including the prize winning track FACEBOOK will soon be available on Spotify and other platforms.

Sales of this go to support the Scottish Mental Health Charity SAMH.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 21 Feb 19 - 03:28 AM

A convict ship sailed from Cork in November 1802 that arrived in Port Jackson in March 1803. Now the song "Back Home In Derry" starts:

In 1803 we sailed out to sea
Out from the sweet town of Derry

Many thanks for confirming what was stated earlier, i.e. that no convict ship sailed "out" from anywhere in the British Isles in 1803, especially none from "the sweet town of Derry".

"Back Home In Derry" is total fiction and has no basis in any historical event.

To answer your question - what was the significant event in 1803 in the northern province near Derry that 'back home in Derry' is really all about?

The short answer is that there were none. A bit further afield the only thing I can turn up is Robert Emmet's Non-Rebellion of 1803 - otherwise named by the man himself as "the dog that didn't bark."

Robert Emmet’s verdict on the Dublin insurrection—‘there was failure in all: plan, preparation and men’. This applied to an even greater extent to events in Ulster. The attempt to raise the North produced no battles, or even skirmishes; in fact not a single shot was fired in anger. The areas of Ulster the United Irishmen tried to raise were in the counties of Cavan, Fermamagh, Down and Antrim. Derry doesn't seem to have featured at all.

The First Fleet arrived in Botany Bay in 1788 but the location was considered totally unsuitable. Botany Bay was rejected as a place of settlement and Port Jackson (Sydney) was chosen instead. It is still considered to be the greatest natural harbour in the world. In 1803 the convict colony in Tasmania was established, followed by one in Queensland in 1824. Western Australia was established as a "free colony" (i.e. it did not receive any convicts) in 1829 but in 1850 due an acute labour shortage it began to receive convicts around the time that the states on the east coast of Australia stopped taking convicts. Transportation as a means of dealing with felons peaked in 1830 after which it went into a steep decline finally ending in 1868.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 19 - 07:00 PM

Back home in derry by Shanakie - sorry for all the posts. I'll stop now as have to start my computer code work again - did this in the lunch break for light relief !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnIMp_2xxEM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 19 - 06:57 PM

PS I found the convict ship Rolla sailed from Cork City Ireland on 4 November 1802 (is that the port Queenstown as per Titanic stopped there to pick up passengers) bound for Port Jackson arriving in 1803. This is the only possible ship. I checked all years around that time of convict ships into OZ and where the convicts came from and where the ships sailed from. Info in our song at:
It took 4 months to get there. The route is on a map in the video.

Sorry going off track a bit here from Jamie Raeburn. Is there a back home in Derry post by the way.

Also does anyone know Im getting confused about where these ships actually sailed to : Botany Bay, Port Jackson (Sydney) whats the diff ? did any go straight to Van Diemen's Land (Tassy to Ozzies call it ie -Tasmania) or stop in Sydney or Melbourne first ?

PS I lost interest in the song as started to get fascinated by the emigration route since Ive pretty much done the same : London to Sydney when I emigrated but on a Pan-Am and United Airlines jet !!! (see going off track again !)

sláinte , slán go fóill.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 19 - 06:42 PM

So was Jamie Raeburn's crime highway robbery even though in the later version his alleged crime is left unstated. wasnt that in centuries before the 19th ?

and please put me out of my misery - what was the significant event in 1803 in the northern province near Derry that 'back home in Derry' is really all about . Dang it I completely missed this in thinking it was true !

Signed
Naive

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 19 Feb 19 - 09:33 PM

Here's a little gem I transcribed from the Flanders collection

FAREWELL TO THE HILLS OF CALEDONIA (Jamie Raeburn)
Charles Finnemore Bridgewater, ME 10/2/1945
Helen Hartness Flanders Collection, Middlebury VT

My name is William Reilly, in Glasgow I was born
The place that I resided in I was forced to leave in scorn
The place that I resided in I was forced to to gang awa'
So farewell to the boney hills and dales of Caledoni-O

'Twas mounted on our coaches (?) my heart was filled with grief
To think my loyal companions could give me no relief
'Twas mounted on our coaches (?) my heart was broke in twa
So farewell to the boney hills and dales of Caledoni-O

Now the crime that I committed 't was highway robbery
I laid the blame on no-one though I had com-er-ades three
I laid the blame on no-one though I had com-er-ades twa (trois?)
So farewell to the boney hills and dales of Caledoni-O

It was early monday morning just at the break of day
I overheard our turnkey those words to us did say
Rise up you jovial fellows, I warn you one and all
But today you must leave the hills and dales of Caledoni-O

Now here's to my old father, one of the best of men
Likewise to my old sweetheart whose name was Helen then
No more we'll wander side by side down by yon Brindalaw
So farewell to the boney hills and dales of Caledoni-O

Now here's to my old mother; I'm sorry for what I've done
I hope no-one will tell to her the race that I have run
I hope that God will guard her while I am far awa'
So farewell to the boney hills and dales of Caledoni-O

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 19 Feb 19 - 06:41 AM

Not only did no convict transport sail from Londonderry dear Guest - None sailed at all from anywhere in 1803, so the opening two lines are total chaff historically. Such inaccuracies are not uncommon in retro-songs referring to historical events that also try to make political points.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Feb 19 - 05:52 AM

Hi again - thanks for the info on where convict ships bound for Australia sailed from. Therefore, Back Home in Derry, isnt right either in implying the convict ship sailed from Londonderry down Lough Foyle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Feb 19 - 05:30 AM

Hey I completely forgot to post our version of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpb9RZUAgw4
Didnt know it would lead to some more posts on this which I'll now read.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 18 Feb 19 - 04:20 AM

Thank you for that correction Reinhard, much appreciated.

Raeburn was a baker, unjustly accused of theft and banished for life to Botany Bay, c.1840.

Those transported for non-capital offences were sentenced to seven years. Those transported for capital offences were sentenced to 14 years and sometimes life depending upon the severity and nature of their crimes. Political prisoners were transported for life.

Cannot understand why reading the words of the song anyone should state the fictitious Jamie Raeburn was anything other than Guilty as charged:

"Unto my aged Mother, oh I'm vexed for what I've done.
I hope there's nane cast up to you the race that I have run
I pray that God protect ye when I am gaun awa
Far frae these bonny hills and braes o Caledonia"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: Reinhard
Date: 17 Feb 19 - 09:00 PM

Sorry, the last post has been by me. Somehow I lost my cookies.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Feb 19 - 08:59 PM

Now you're mixing up two things.

The liner notes to Willy Scott's 1968 Topic album The Shepherd's Song state: "Raeburn was a baker, unjustly accused of theft and banished for life to Botany Bay, c.1840. However, the Glasgow policeman and folk song enthusiast, Supt. John Ord, had all the criminal records searched from 1833 on, without finding trace of Raeburn’s conviction."

Greentrax records was founded in 1986 by former police inspector Ian Green.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 17 Feb 19 - 07:57 PM

Jamie Raeburn's Lament/Farewell or whatever is pure invention. There never was any such person. The guy who started Greentrax(?) an ex-Edinburgh Policemen went to great trouble to try and trace him through Police and Court records and found absolutely nothing.

Felons convicted by Scottish Courts were rarely if ever transported (Notable exceptions being "politicals", e.g. Thomas Muir). This was due mainly to loss of population in Scotland in the early and mid 18th century. It was a much more common sentence in England and Ireland (Ratio being 5:1 according to the extensive records that exist of those transported initially to Botany Bay and latterly to Tasmania). Convict Transports only sailed from English and Irish Ports (London, Portsmouth, Portland and from Dublin and Cork).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Feb 19 - 03:03 PM

I think I first heard it from Ossian in the 80s, with Tony Cuffe on vocals. But the Corries also recorded it, and, in much more tecent times, a lovely version from Ewan McLennan. All of above versions on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: Anne Neilson
Date: 17 Feb 19 - 05:52 AM

I remember Norman Buchan (responsible for The Wee Red Book and - with Peter Hall - The Scottish Folksinger) saying that it was the only song he knew with "Caledonia" in the lyrics that wasn't sentimental.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,Guest Wellington NZ
Date: 17 Feb 19 - 04:46 AM

Hi Im just about to post our band's version of this. Will post the link when I've finished the Youtube video. Maybe 1-2 hours time. Our band was called Shanakie and the song is circa 1994. I digitised all of our old songs off an old tape casette and putting them of Youtube progressively. This is an extremely moving song and recounts the sad tale of transportation to Botany Bay for a petty theft of which Jamie Raeburn is reportedly innocent. Its extremely sad so no wonder it was so popular in Scotland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,Wee Jock
Date: 30 May 17 - 12:15 PM

I also sing this song and the version i use is the one in the 101 Scottish Songs, also known as The Wee Red Book. It has a great selection of songs including The Braes o' Balquhidder, The Haughs of Cromdale,Maggie Lauder plus many many more. A gem of a song book. Highly recommended.

Wee Jock

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 29 May 17 - 12:33 PM

Just found version from Maine circa 1942 with additional lyrics regarding his crime- highway robbery. The tune is pretty much standard. Interestingly, the classic logging tragedy song Peter Emberly, from Northeastern North America, has this melody and several similar verses

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: ollaimh
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 09:28 AM

the first set of lyrics from joe offer are the ones i have sung for decades--got them from my grannie. i don't know where she got them, but i am wondering now as there are only a fw words different. she must have had a book.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: cloudstreet
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 04:23 AM

Russel Ward's papers in the National Library of Australia include a hand-written copy of the lyrics to Caledonia from Joseph Cashmere to Russel Ward, along with a letter dated 11/10/1954

Subject: Lyr Add: JAMES RAEBURN (from Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Dec 06 - 10:15 PM

From Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Firth c.17(49).

JAMES RAEBURN

My name is James Raeburn. In Glasgow I was born,
My place and habitation in all its uniform.
From the place of my residing I am forced to go awa,
This day to leave the hills and dales of Caledonia.

Now early the next morning, just by the break of day,
I overheard the turnkey, these words to us did say:
"Arise, ye trembling convicts, arise ye ane and a'.
For this day ye're forced to leave the hills of Caledonia."

So quickly then we arose, put on our clothes full of woe.
With heavy irons they bound us lest we should run away.
We mounted on the coach with our hearts full of grief.
Our friends they stood all about us, but could give us no relief.

Farewell, my aged mother. I'm grieved for what I've done.
I hope none of you will cast up the race I've run.
I hope God will protect you when I am far away.
Farewell unto the hills and dales of Caledonia.

Farewell, my aged father. You are the best of men.
Likewise unto my sweetheart, for Catherine is her name.
No earthly judge will judge us, but He that knows our woe.
Farewell unto the hills and dales of Caledonia.

If e'er we chance to meet again, I hope we'll meet above,
Where Hallelujah will be sung and all is precious love;
Where no earthly judge will judge us, but He that rules us all.
So farewell unto the hills and dales of Caledonia.

Subject: DTADD: Mary Hepburn
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 03:32 PM

As Masato's folktrax listing says above, there are 17 variations of the song in the Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection. Most are quite close to what has already been posted, but this one is unusual. Too bad it's only two verses.
-Joe Offer-

---

MARY HEPBURN

1 My name is Mary Hepburn in Glesga I was born
My place of habitation was all in uniform
From the place of my residence I was forced to rin' awa'
Sayin' farewell until the hills and dales o' Caledonia.

2 Fare-ye-well my aged mither I'm grieved for what I've dune
But I hope that none o' you will e'er cast up the race I've run.
And I hope you'll be protected when I am far awa'
Sayin' farewell until the hills and dales o' Caledonia.


Rev. DUNCAN MACGREGOR - G

The 8-volume Greig-Duncan collection is available from Dick Greenhaus at Camsco for $300. It's a lot of money, but it's an extraordinary piece of work.

Subject: DTADD: Version: Caledonia
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jun 03 - 01:08 PM

CALEDONIA

My name is Jimmy Randall, in Glasgow I was born;
All through a sad misfortune, I was forced to leave in scorn.
From my home and occupation I was forced to gang awa',
And leave those bonnie hills of dear old Caledonia.

It was early one morning, before the break of day,
There came a cruel turnkey who unto us did say:
'Rise up, you seven convicts. I warn you, one and a',
It is today you sail away from Caledonia.'

We slowly rose, put on our clothes, our hearts were sad with grief;
Our friends, they came to see us off, could give us no relief.
With heavy chains they bound us down, for fear we'd gang awa'
Far from those bonnie hills and dales of Caledonia.

Goodbye unto my father, he was the best of men;
Likewise unto my sister, her name is Catheren.
Her bonny locks of auburn hair, I loved them that she wore;
She far excels those haughty belles of Caledonia.

Farewell unto my mother, I was her darling son;
I hope they won't cast up to her the reckless life I've run.
Heaven guard her and protect her now I am far awa',
Far from the place where I was born in Caledonia.

My sweetheart came to see me and bid a long goodbye;
She said to me, 'Goodbye, my man!' as in the cell I lie.
No more we'll roam together, down by old Broomielaw,
For the rolling seas divide us now from Caledonia.

I'm longing for the time to come when I'll again be free;
I'll lose no time in going home across the deep blue sea,
And see once more the ones I loved, as in the days of yore,
And find the sweetheart whom I left in Caledonia.




Russel Ward collected the second and third verses of 'Caledonia' from Joe Cashmere; these were afterwards recorded by Jeffrey Way and Edgar Waters. Twelve months later, when asked to sing the two verses at a meeting of the Australian Folk Lore Society, Cashmere astonished the members by recollecting seven. He told John Meredith that in Booligai in the late 1890s he saw police stop men singing this and other convict and bushranger ballads as treasonable. Jack Lee corroborated his statement.

from Folksongs of Australia (Meredith & Anderson)

---

Obviously, this is a version of Jamie Raeburn. It follows the same pattern as other versions, but there are significant differences.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: jamie raeburn's farewell
From: masato sakurai
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 10:31 PM

From folktrax:

JIMMY RAEBURN - "My name is Jimmy Raeburn, in Glesga I was born" - "You hills and dales o Caledonia - Transportation Ballad - ROUD#600 - FORD VS 1899 p55-56/ p243 "James Raeburn's Farewell" (6v w/o) - DUNCAN Ms W380 M36 - GREIG-DUNCAN 8 2002 #1535 pp53-63 (17var) "Jamie Raeburn" - JFSS 2:8 1906 pp180-181 RVW Norfolk "John Raeburn" (4v) - HENRY SOP #151 "JR's Farewell" (6v) - ORD BB 1930 pp357-8 6v/m "JR's Farewell" - SEEGER-MacCOLL S! 1960 p80 Wm Miller (Ewan's father), Stirling - McCOLL-SEEGER TSES 1977 p288-290 Charlotte Higgins, Blairgowrie, Perthsh 1963 - PALMER RVW 1983 #62 pp99- 100 RVW: Mr Crist, Kings Lynn,Norfolk 1905 "John R" -- Jessie MURRAY of Buckie, Banffsh rec by Alan Lomax, Edinburgh Ceili, 1951: RPL 21538/ CAEDMON TC-1163/ TOPIC 12-T-195 - Jeannie ROBERTSON rec by PK, London 1953: 187 - Togo CRAWFORD rec by Seamus Ennis, Mossdale, Kircudbrightsh 28/5/53: RPL 21863/ 262 - Davie STEWART (v/acc) rec by PK, Dundee, Angus 1956: 180/ rec by Alan Lomax, London 1957: ROUNDER 82161-1633-2 2002 "Jamie R" - Ewan McCOLL & Peggy SEEGER: TOPIC 12-T-16 1959 - Willie SCOTT: TOPIC 12-T-183 1968 - Phoebe SMITH (gypsy): TOPIC 12-TS-304 1977/ VETERAN VT136CD 1998 "Johnny Abourne" (Note: for "Caledonia" Phoebe sings "Canada-i-o") - Jim McGONIGLE (unacc) Inishowen, Donegal ITSC-001 CASS-0887 - (Tom SCOTT rec by Peter SHEPHEARD, Aberdeensh Oct 1967: Musical Traditions MT-CD-308 'Ythanside') --- Martin WYNDHAM-READ: LEADER LER-2028 1971 (Australian version)

~Masato

Subject: ADD: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 08:58 PM

This is quite similar to what's in the Digital Tradition, so I see no reason it should be harvested. Nonetheless, it's always interesting to see various versions.
-Joe Offer-

---

JAMIE RAEBURN'S FAREWELL

My name is Jamie Raeburn, in Glasgow I was born,
My place and habitation I'm forced to leave with scorn;
From my place and habitation I now must gang awa,
Far frae the bonnie hills and dales of Caledonia.

It was early one morning, just by the break of day,
We were 'wakened by the turnkey, who unto us did say—
Arise, ye hapless convicts, arise ye ane and a',
This is the day ye are to stray from Caledonia."

We all arose, put on our clothes, our hearts were full of grief,
Our friends, who a' stood round the coach, could grant us no
relief;
Our parents, wives, and sweethearts dear, their hearts were broke in twa
To see us leave the bonnie braes of Caledonia.

Farewell, my aged mother, I'm vexed for what I've done,
I hope none will cast up to you the race that I have run;
I hope God will protect you when I am far awa,
Far from the bonnie hills and dales of Caledonia.

Farewell, my honest father, you are the best of men.
And likewise my own sweetheart, it's Catherine is her name;
Nae mair we'll walk by Clyde's clear stream or by the Broomielaw,
For I must leave the hills and dales of Caledonia.

If we ne'er meet on earth again, I hope we'll meet above
Where hallelujahs will be sung to Him who reigns in love;
Nae earthly judge shall judge us then, but He who rule us a'.
Farewell to a' the hills and dales of Caledonia.

from Ord's Bothy Songs and Ballads

Subject: Origins: Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 08:45 PM

I guess we could explore this song a bit more. Here's the entry from the Traditional Ballad Index.
-Joe Offer-

---

Jamie Raeburn (Caledonia)

DESCRIPTION: "My name is (Jamie Raeburn), in Glasgow I was born." Convicted (of a crime he did not commit), he has been sentenced to transportation. He bids farewell to family, sweetheart, and his beloved home in Caledonia. He hopes to return when free
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1904 (Ford)
KEYWORDS: transportation separation farewell Scotland
FOUND IN: Australia Ireland Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Meredith/Anderson, pp. 85-86, "Caledonia"; 245-246, "Caledonio" (2 texts, 2 tunea)
SHenry H151, p. 124, "Jamie Raeburn's Farewell" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ord, pp. 357-358, "Jamie Raeburn's Farewell" (1 text, 1 tune)
MacSeegTrav 94, "Jamie Raeburn" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, JIMRAEBN
File: MA085

---

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions

The Ballad Index Copyright 2003 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: jamie raeburn's farewell
From: GUEST,johntm
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 08:43 PM

Thanks to all

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: jamie raeburn's farewell
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Apr 02 - 10:17 PM

Oddly, there seem to be some differences between the Midi Pages kept on each of the Mudcat servers, so my previous link apparantly leads to an iteration where that particular file is not present. Try this, instead:

Jamie Raeburn.mid

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: jamie raeburn's farewell
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Apr 02 - 10:09 PM

The Tannahill's set varies in a few words from that in the DT as Jimmy Raeburn, and lacks a verse. They don't credit any source for the version they recorded, but traditional versions don't vary all that much anyway. Ewan MacColl (Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland (1977) commented:

"In a note written for The Buchan Observer of August 1908, [Gavin] Greig described this transportation ballad as being one of the most popular folksongs we have. Seven years earlier, [Robert] Ford had written that it was long a popular song all over Scotland, and sold readily in penny-sheet forms. [Frank] Kidson knew it from several broadsides under the title of The Hills of Caledonia Oh.

The hero of the song was, according to Ford, a baker to trade who was sentenced to banishment for theft more than sixty years before. Commenting on this, Greig refers to search of the Glasgow criminal records by John Ord, who failed to find any person of the name of James Raeburn who had been banished from Glasgow for theft or any other crime during that period." This period would presumably be around the 1830s.

There are several broadside copies at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

James Raeburn  Printer and date unknown.

James Raeburn  Printer and date unknown.

Jamie Raeburn  Printed between 1851 and 1910 by Lindsay, J.? (Glasgow?)

Jamie Raeburn  Printed by The Poet's Box (Glasgow); date missing, but these are usually 1850-1880.

Willie Scott's tune (unlikely to be very different from the Tannahill arrangement) can be found at The Mudcat Midi Pages:

Jamie Raeburn.mid

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: jamie raeburn's farewell
From: masato sakurai
Date: 20 Apr 02 - 08:55 PM

There's their official website (Click here), which contains lyrics & notes.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: jamie raeburn's farewell
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Apr 02 - 08:44 PM

Simply type raeburn into the very useful "Digitrad and Forum Search" box on the main Forum page. You have to remember that titles and spellings vary in traditional songs; in this case, the song is in the DT as Jimmy Raeburn, taken from the repertoire of Willie Scott.

Subject: jamie raeburn's farewell
From: GUEST,johntm
Date: 20 Apr 02 - 08:28 PM

Heard this on an old Tannahill Weaver's record Passage.