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Twa bony lads were Sandy and Jockie; Jockie was lo'ed but Sandy unlucky; Jockie was laird baith of hills and of vallies, But Sandy was nought but the king o' gude fellows. Jockie lo'ed Madgie, for Madgie had money, And Sandie lo'ed Mary, for Mary was bony: Ane wedded for Love, ane wedded for treasure, So Jockie had siller, and Sandy had pleasure.
This is a song by Robert Burns. It was written in 1790 and is read here by Clare Grogan.
Pauline MackayBurns composed 'Sandy and Jockie' for inclusion in James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum where it appeared in 1790.
The song focuses on marriage and social class and conveys the typically Burnsian notion that love and pleasure are more important than material possessions.
Better to wed for 'love' than for 'treasure'? In the selection for 6 March, love was outbid by lucre. Today, a poem in which those opportunistic priorities are reversed and 'pleasure' trumps 'treasure'.
Donny O'Rourke
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