Wantonness

[ Roud V31025 ; Robert Burns]

Jean Redpath sang Wantonness in 1976 on her album The Songs of Robert Burns Volume 1.

Rod Paterson sang Wantonness in the BBC Radio Scotland programme The Miller’s Reel, first broadcast in 1986, and released on a BBC LP in 1989.

Rod Paterson also sang Wantonness in 1980 on Jock Tamson’s Bairns’s eponymous first album, Jock Tamson’s Bairns. They noted:

We think the first air [Brave Lewis Roy] should properly be called Brave Louis Roi—possibly a relic of the Auld Alliance. As for the song, Wantonness—remarks in The Scots Musical Museum imply that it was only included in order to preserve the air, in the hope that some other hand might improve on Burns’ words. Burns himself considered it one of his least successful lyrics. We don’t agree.

Alistair Ogilvy sang Crowdie and Wantonness in 2012 on his Greentrax album Leaves Sae Green. He noted:

Two Burns songs of contrasting themes, both from the Scots Musical Museum. I first heard Wantonness sung by Zarya Wright in the late night bothy session at Cullerlie Singers Festival. I also heard Gordeanna [McCulloch] sing Crowdie at the same festival.

Lyrics

Jock Tamson’s Bairns sing Wantonness

Wantonness for evermair.
Wantonness has been my ruin,
But for a’ my dool and care,
It’s wantonness for ever.

I hae lo’ed the black, the broon,
I hae lo’ed the fair, the gowden;
A’ the colours o’ the toon,
I hae won their wanton favours.

Wantonness for evermair,
Wantonness has been my ruin;
But for a’ my dool and care,
It’s wantonness for ever.