Come under my plaidie

Come under my plaidie is a humorous courting songs in which an elderly man tries to convince a young girl to marry him, relying on the economic well-being that can offer her instead of youthful vigor. There is never a lack of traditional songs, mostly of Scottish origin, filled with double meanings, on marriage troubles between spouses with a great age difference; a marriage, moreover, not unusual for old wealthy men, often widowers who sought the possibility of descent in a young wife; obviously the young betrothed had no say and was under to the “interested” maneuvers of her parents.

The title is a clear reference to medieval customs “Come under my cloak” says the old man, that is, marry me: the husband in ancient times attested to his possession of the woman by putting his cloak on her shoulders.

The melody is titled Johnny Macgill, from the name of violinist from Girvan, Ayrshire who is supposed to be the composer. This tune was used by Robert Burns for his song “Sweet Tibbie Dunbar” 

SMM vol VI, n. 533
I
Come under my plaidie, the nicht’s gaun tae fa’
Come in frae the cauld blast, the drift and the snaw
Come under my plaidie and sit doon beside me
There’s room in it, dear lassie believe me, for twa
Come under my plaidie and sit doon beside me
I’ll hap ye frae every cauld blast that can blaw
Come under my plaidie and sit doon beside me
There’s room in it dear lassie believe me, for twa
II
Gae wa’ wi’ your plaidie auld Donald, gae ‘wa’
I fear nae the cauld blast, the drift or the snaw
Gae ‘wa’ wi’ your plaidie, I’ll no’ sit beside ye
Ye micht be my gutcher auld Donald, gae ‘wa’
I’m gaun tae meet Johnnie, he’s young and he’s bonnie
He’s been at Meg’s bridal fu’ trig and fu’ braw
Nane dances sae lightly, sae gracefu’, sae tightly
His cheeks like the new rose, his brow’s like the snaw
III
Dear Marion, let that flee stick tae the wa’
Your Jock’s but a gowk and has naethin’ ava’
The hale o’ his pack he has noo on his back
He’s thirty and I am but threescore and twa
Be frank noo an’ kin’ly I’ll busk ye aye finely
To kirk or to merket they’ll few gang sae braw
A bein hoose tae bide in, a chaise for tae ride in
And flunkies tae tend ye as aft as ye ca’
IV
My faither aye tellt me, my mither an’ a’
Ye’d mak’ a guid husband and keep me aye braw
It’s true I lo’e Johnnie, he’s young and he’s bonnie
But wae’s me ye ken he has naethin’ ava’
I hae little tocher ye’ve made a guid offer
I’m noo mair than twenty, my time is but sma’
Sae gie me yer plaidie, I’ll creep in beside ye
I thocht ye’d been aulder than three score and’ twa

Come under my plaidie, scritta da Hector MacNeill si inserisce nel filone umoristico delle courting songs in cui un uomo attempato cerca di convincere una giovane ragazza a sposarlo, facendo leva sul benessere economico che può offrirle al posto del vigore giovanile. Non mancano mai canzoni tradizionali per lo più di origini scozzesi, infarcite di doppi sensi, sui problemi matrimoniali tra sposi con una grande differenza d’età; unioni del resto non insolite per i vecchi uomini benestanti, spesso vedovi che cercavano in una giovane moglie la possibilità di una discendenza; ovviamente un tempo la giovane promessa sposa non aveva voce in capitolo e subiva le manovre “interessate” dei genitori.

Il titolo è un evidente riferimento alle usanze medievali “Vieni sotto al mio mantello” dice il vecchio cioè sposami: il marito anticamente attestava il suo possesso della donna mettendo il proprio mantello sulle spalle di lei.

La melodia è intitolata Johnny Macgill dal nome del violinista di Girvan, Ayrshire che si suppone ne sia il compositore. La melodia fu utilizzata da Robert Burns per la canzone  “Tibbie Dunbar“

NOTE
1) let that fly stick to the wall= let’s drop the subject.
3) a 22-year-old woman was already considered a spinster! For the harsh living conditions and the frequent maternity a woman was already old one with 35

NOTE
3) una donna di 22 anni era già considerata zitella! Non per altro ma le dure condizioni di vita e le frequenti maternità invecchiavano una donna già al superamento del 35esimo anno d’età