The Book of Scottish Songs: A Rocking! Old Scottish Songs

A Rocking! Old Scottish Songs by Geoff Ritchie

The Book of Scottish Songs was compiled by Alex. Whitelaw and printed by Blackie and Sons in Glasgow in 1843. Beautifully bound in brown half-leather, the book's title is embossed in gold letters and its gilded page edges still maintain a brilliant sheen after nearly two hundred years. (Click on the book below to see a larger image).

The Book of Scottish Songs is a virtual treasure trove of Scottish musical history. Within its 400 plus pages are more than 1200 poems and songs from leading Scottish poets, such as Robert Burns, to relative unknowns like Anne Keith. The pages are sprinkled with lively social commentary and interesting biographies which give us a unique glimpse into Scottish life, culture and history in the 16th, 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries.

Curiously, The Book of Scottish Songs contains only two illustrations, one of which is of a group of merrymakers in front of a fire, dancing the night away (right). Entitled "A Rocking!" the illustration inspired the name of this new column and appears in its title banner. (Click on the picture to go to a larger image).

A Rocking! Song Archives | Back to Main Page
All About the Book | Meet our Columnist, Geoff Ritchie

Suggestions or Comments? E-Mail Geoff