Roamin’ in the gloamin’ (1928)

ROAMIN' IN THE GLOAMIN' 91 "O Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast," "Mary Morrison," "O A' the Airts the Wind Can Blaw," "Come under My Pladie," "Corn Rigs," "Bonnie Wee Thing," and "My Nannie's Awa." But, indeed, every song of Burns which dealt with love and the lasses, oh, appealed to me tremendously and I remember, in those weeks of my first rapture for the great bard of Scotland, telling myself over and over again that some day I would compose a song or two which would also exalt and glorify the charms of some unknown Mary or Jeannie, or Nell, or Annie. Yes, a Harry Lauder love-song that would be sung all over the world ! As luck would have it the tour also brought me to the birthplace of men like Tannahill, the Paisley Poet, and James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd. These men I worshipped second only to the Immortal Robert himself and I possessed myself of copies of their books and of every book or pamphlet that had ever been written about them. They were my Heroes of Scottish Song. I was only a poor, uneducated miner but with what entrancement did I read, over and over again, the Supreme Wish of Robert Burns — — A wish (I mind its power) A wish that to my latest hour Will strongly heave my breast That I, for poor auld Scotland's sake Some useful plan or book could make Or sing a sang at least. At that time and for years afterwards I frequently felt that the stuff I was singing was poor and tawdry and unworthy, but the determination to write a good love-song some day never quite forsook me. Whether, even yet, I have succeeded is not for me to say but I would express the wish that if I am remembered for any of my songs it will be for such lyrics as "Roamin' In The Gloamin'," "I Love A Lassie," "Over the Hills to Ardentinny," or my latest and greatest song, "My Heather Belle." All too soon for me the Kennedys' tour came to an end and I found myself back at Hamilton again. I was now, in