More about this song
The bawdy song 'Our John's Brak Yestreen' was published in The Merry Muses of Caledonia in 1799. There is no manuscript evidence to attribute this song to Robert Burns.
However, its presence in The Merry Muses would suggest that Burns collected the song. As such, it might, at the very least, be considered a useful partner piece to Burns's bawdry.
In the song, two women scrutinise their husband's private parts and sexual prowess. This is a common motif of bawdy folk song which can be traced back to medieval times and to the poetry of the Scottish Makars (eg. William Dunbar's 'The Tretis of the Twa Mariit Women and the Wedo).
Pauline Mackay
