It isnae me
"It isnae me" is a poem by Sally Holmes which was set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1930.[1]
The poem was first printed in Country Life magazine, and the song published in 1931 by Keith Prowse & Co. Ltd, London.
It was written at Elgar's home, "Marl Bank", near Worcester, and was dedicated to the soprano Joan Elwes,[2] whom he had admired at Three Choirs Festival. The poem was performed by her in October 1930 at a concert in Dumfries, Scotland.
The poem is in the Scots language.
Lyrics[edit]
It isnae me that's keerin'—or no' an awfu' lot,
But—it's sair, whiles, mindin' things ye thocht ye had forgot.
An' when wee Tam the Fiddler played 'The Lea Rig'[3] doon the street,
I gie'd masel' a shock tae find that I wis near tae greet.
It isnae me that's keerin'—or no' for vera lang,
But—there's mony happy times awa' since last I heard yon sang.
An' someway—Och, I dinnae ken! I cannae say things richt—
I wish young Tam the Fiddler hadnae played yon sang last nicht.
Scots translations[edit]
- keerin' = grieving, complaining
- sair = sad
- whiles = meanwhile
- mindin' = remembering
- wee = little, young
- lea rig = meadow-ridge
- gie'd masel' = gave myself
- greet = cry
- awa' = ago
- dinnae ken = don't know
Recordings[edit]
- "The Unknown Elgar" includes "It isnae me" performed by Teresa Cahill (soprano), with Barry Collett (piano).
- Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar has "It isnae me" performed by Mark Wilde (tenor), with David Owen Norris (piano).
References[edit]
- ^ Kennedy, Michael (1968). Portrait of Elgar. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-315414-5.
- ^ York Symphony Orchestra People. "Photograph of Joan Elwes".[dead link]
- ^ "'The Lea-Rig' by Robert Burns". Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
External links[edit]
- It isnae me: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project