Title: Annie Lawrie, A Scotch Ballad, Published By: Oliver Ditson, Location: Boston, Year: 1855
Cover Lithograph By: Winslow Homer (1836-1910)
Winslow Homer is regarded by many as the greatest American painter of the nineteenth century. Born in Boston and raised in rural Cambridge, he began his career as a commercial printmaker, first in Boston and then in New York, where he settled in 1859. For Homer, the late 1860s and the 1870s were a time of artistic experimentation and prolific and varied output. He resided in New York City, making his living chiefly by designing magazine illustrations and building his reputation as a painter.
“Annie Laurie” is an old Scottish song based on a poem by William Douglas (1672?–1748) of Dumfries and Galloway. The words were modified and the tune was added by Alicia Scott in 1834/5. The song is also known as “Maxwelton Braes“.
Maxwelton’s braes are bonnie, Where early fa’s the dew,
‘Twas there that Annie Laurie Gi’ed me her promise true. Gi’ed me her promise true – Which ne’er forgot will be, And for bonnie Annie Laurie I’d lay me down and dee.
Her brow is like the snaw-drift, Her neck is like the swan, Her face it is the fairest, That ‘er the sun shone on. That ‘er the sun shone on – And dark blue is her e’e, And for bonnie Annie Laurie I’d lay me down and dee.
Like dew on gowans lying, Is the fa’ o’ her fairy feet, And like winds, in simmer sighing, Her voice is low and sweet. Her voice is low and sweet – And she’s a’ the world to me; And for bonnie Annie Laurie I’d lay me down and dee.
